Sunday, June 14, 2009

Jason Carpenter's Myeloma Video Blog

I ran across a video blog from Jason Carpenter, an MM survivor. At 33, Jason was diagnosed with late stage MM. He created the blog to document his treatment, experiences and to provide updates to family and friends. The videos are help people understand what myeloma "feels" like, from associated pains, side effect of meds, back surgery, chemo and a stem transplant.

I found it very encouraging that his last posting was made on May 9, 2009. Seems he was too busy living to continue posting - that is great news for him, and inspiring for people living with myeloma.

Jason has a collection of his YouTube videos, which you can see here. However, I could not see how to sort them chronologically, so I'm posting the links in order.

Here's hist first clip:



Road to Remission (Videos 2-10 were posted on August 16, 2007)
2: The Diagnosis
3: How People Reacted
4: Dealing with the Doctors
5: My Meds and Their Side Effect

6: How I'm Feeling
7: Puke Time
8a: Doctor Follow-Up Part 1
8B: Doctor Follow-Up Part 2
9: How I Feel/Stem Cells
10: How I Feel/Subway Story

11: How I Feel (August 21, 2007)
12: Doctor Recommends Back Surgery (April 28, 2007)
13: BIG Week for Me/How I Feel (August 27, 2007)
14: Pre-Op Blood Draw (August 29, 2007)
15a: First Cancer Treatment Follow-Up (August 30, 2007)
15b: First Cancer Treatment Follow-Up II (August 30, 2007)
16: What the Shrink Thinks (August 20, 2007)
17: Well-Wishing Strangers (September 5, 2007)
18: A Word on Gossip (September 5, 2007)
19: Big News/How I Feel (September 6, 2007)
20: Back Surgery/How I Feel (September 17, 2007)

21: Back Surgery/Hospital Footage (September 17, 2007)
22: Back Surgery/Hospital Footage (September 17, 2007)
23: Back Surgery/Hospital Footage (September 17, 2007)
24: Back Surgery/Hospital Footage (September 17, 2007)
25: Back Surgery/Hospital Footage (September 17, 2007)
27 Part 1: Not One of My Better Days (September 29, 2007)
27 Part 2: Not One of My Better Days (September 30, 2007)
28: How My Grandma & I Are Feeling (October 9, 2007)
29: New Cancer Levels/Rash/Beard (October 26, 2007)
30: How I'm Feeling (Not Well) (November 11, 2007)

31: How Fam & Friends Should Get Involved (November 25, 2007)
32a: Cancer Numbers Increasing? Lurker? (December 4, 2007)
32b: Cancer Numbers Increasing?Lurkers? (December 3, 2007)
33: Paris/Dominican/Welcome College Buddies (December 27, 2007)
34: Transplant/Primping Out Hospital Room
35: Emotional Breakdowns/Lonely as Hell
36: Bad News Involving a Sperm Bank (January 4, 2008)

Transplant Updates:
Remission (January 9, 2008)
Pneumonia, Stranger in Need, Remission (January 25, 2008)
Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant (March 4, 2008)
Autologus Stem Cell Transplant (March 8, 2008)
Recovery Hits Snag: The Common Cold (March 22, 2008)

Sister's 30th B-Day, Go UMass (April 2, 2008)
Advice on Hair Falling Out (April 9, 2008)
Testosterone, Hair Coming Back! Part 1 (April 26, 2008)
Testosterone, Hair Part 2 (April 26, 2008)
I'm baaaaaaaaaack (July 28, 2008)
Sorry for the Lapse (October 23, 2008)

Monthly Infusions (November 5, 2008)
A Video From the Top of the Mayan Temple (May 9, 2009)

2 comments:

Lori Puente said...

I have seen some of Jason's postings and I agree with you, they are helpful and inspiring. Thanks for posting them.

Lori
Caregiver dx 6/16/08
California
treatment facility Little Rock, Ark
www.caringbridge.org/visit/davidpuente

Lori Puente said...

Now that we are more than two years out, I have had conversations with other living MMers and we have this thing where we say the reason its hard to find MM survivors is because they are out living their lives! As well they should be. But like you, I wonder about Jason from time to time and hope and pray that he is being a wise young man, enjoying his life and moving on!

I've continued blogging more publicly now about my views as a caregiver. www.loripuente.com.

I hope all is well with you.

Lori