“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”
Helen Keller
I am fortunate to have attended The American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2022 Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Although I attended virtually, it did not diminish the opportunity to observe the
many outstanding myeloma experts who submitted their groundbreaking research. I so appreciate the International Myeloma Foundation and its tireless support staff that make it possible for patients like me to attend. It’s truly an amazing experience to share this opportunity with other support group leaders. I feel a special part of the meeting is developing a camaraderie with fellow support group leaders.
My expectation as an ASH attendee isn’t to be become a myeloma expert, rather I hope to impart guidance to support group members so that they can access details about relevant issues. My hope is that I will be better able to direct them to a myeloma specialist who has the potential to address a specific concern or where they can seek a second opinion. More importantly, I want to share this same camaraderie within our support groups with my co-leaders to establish a sense of community and reassurance as we make our way through this difficult journey.
I would also like to thank Drs. Brian and Susie Durie and the many corporate sponsors for making my attendance to ASH this year possible.
John DeFlice
Follow me on Twitter @johnde1MYELOMA