In recent years, two of my Texas Aggie friends, Carrie Giles Freeman and Megan Morley Haverland, have lost their fathers to a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma. Prior to their parents’ battles, I had never even heard of the disease.
A few months ago, Carrie, Megan and I decided to turn my #texasstrong shirts maroon for Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month this March, in hopes of spreading the word and supporting research for this devastating cancer.
In multiple myeloma, malignant plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow, crowding out the normal plasma cells that help fight infections. These malignant plasma cells then produce abnormal proteins (m protein) which may cause tumors, damage the kidneys, and impair immune system function. In some cases, the malignant cells may cause a single tumor, called a solitary plasmacytoma, but if multiple tumors are formed, then the disease is called multiple myeloma.
Carrie and Sarah with their dad, Mike Giles
Remembering Mike
Carrie and her sister, Sarah (also an Aggie), lost their dad, Michael Giles, in 2012, after a valiant battle against multiple myeloma. Soon after, they also lost their mom, Deborah, to a different type of blood cancer.
Mike was born in Austin, and, while he didn’t graduate from Texas A&M, he rooted for the Aggies and loved watching the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band perform at Kyle Field. He will be remembered for his quick wit and coined phrases. Mike’s daughters miss his weather updates, his cautionary tales, his daily phone check-ins, and his free advice.
Megan with her dad, Col. Tom Morley
Remembering Tom
Megan lost her dad, Col. Thomas V. Morley, Jr., USA (Retired), in 2013, after a valiant battle against multiple myeloma. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Tom was a member of the Class of ’78 and reserved a special place in his heart for both Texas A&M and his hometown of Pittsburgh. Following the Aggies, Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates gave him great joy or misery, depending on the success of the season. Tom’s quick wit always kept life entertaining. Megan, her brother, Sean, and her mom, Kris, all miss him dearly.
For many weeks this summer, God bombarded me with thoughts about water. Over and over, I pondered its power to clean and refresh along with its power to destroy and decimate. I noticed a message about water in nearly every book I read, every song I heard, and every Bible passage on which I meditated….
This month’s Texas Strong Woman of the Month is my beautiful friend, Susan Seay. She is a mom, speaker, and blogger extraordinaire. Meet Susan Seay Susan Seay lives in Austin with her husband and their seven amazing children–one son and six daughters. Over the last 5 years, she has built a business around being intentional…
Dixie Dee Benton Stucky died June 22, 2013, a few months before her 60th birthday, at San Marcos Nursing & Rehab after fighting Alzheimer’s disease for more than 10 years. Dixie was born in Houston, Texas October 11, 1953. Dixie Benton Stucky (1953-2013) As a child “Dee Dee” loved riding her horses and helping her…
I was born at Seton Hospital in Austin in 1984. I think it’s safe to say that my hometown has experienced a few changes since then. After all, I was here before the hipsters arrived, before SXSW started, before Sandra Bullock and everyone else decided ATX was the place to be. In honor of all my fellow native Austinites,…
I never thought I’d find myself in liturgy. I was raised in the Church of Christ in Texas in the 1990s. My father was raised Episcopalian in Texas in the 1960s, only because there happened to be an Episcopal church across the street from his house. My father’s father was raised Swiss Mennonite in Kansas…
I crave community. That’s probably why I’m a bit of a direct sales junkie. I like the personal connection of it. I like knowing that my purchase is helping someone out in a tangible way. I also love buying products that raise funds for those in need. This was the inspiration behind my #texasstrong fundraiser…
