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There’s no cure for multiple myeloma, but remission is possible with advanced treatment. It’s why Tim Cooper began preparing for a stem cell transplant. From collection day to high doses of chemotherapy and finally, the day of transplant, he shares the whole process from start to finish.
Health and healing inspired topics, straight from the headlines to your podcast.
Tim Cooper :02
Yesterday, July 19th, makes it a year since I got my diagnosis for the multiple myeloma. Another milestone to be proud of: That I’m here. I’m better than what I was a year ago. I’m in much better shape. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, you know? It’s getting brighter and brighter, so God is great. He truly is.
Gina DiPietro :26
This is the story of Tim Cooper, a 56-year-old Black man with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. Tim, a bright light, a man of faith, is documenting his experience to help others.
Cooper :42
October 22nd, November 21st. Getting ready for another week.
DiPietro :46
And here's the thing about Tim, he brings a far more upbeat philosophical outlook to a situation than most of us could muster.
Cooper :56
I'm no prophet. I'm no great individual in the sense that I'm an average guy. But I think I've been placed in extraordinary situation that I was meant to deal with. You know, why not me? And so hopefully, whatever I can share with you, can help you to move through this process, and deal with it and take it one day at a time.
DiPietro 1:22
You’re listening to Part 3 of the Tim Cooper story. And thanks so much for continuing on with us here on Novant Health Healthy Headlines. I'm Gina DiPietro, your host.
It’s been a year since Tim was diagnosed with myeloma. There’s no cure but it is manageable – and with the right treatment – remission is possible. It’s why Tim began preparing for an autologous stem cell transplant, meaning the cells are from Tim’s own body. He welcomed us into each part of the process, and today, we’re sharing this part of Tim’s journey with you. It’s all ahead.
[Cooper chats with his oncologist, Dr. Patricia Kropf] 2:04
“We're doing a stem cell transplant.”
“That's correct. Very good.”
“Thank you.”
“You get 100%.”
“Do I get a gold star?”
“Yes.”
“How about a new car?”
“That would be great.” (laughs)
“I’ll take a new car. How about a new apartment?” (laughs)
“I remember the first day you were in clinic. Basically, it was something like this – times 10.”
“Yes. That's right. I’ve come a long way.”
“Alrighty.”
DiPietro 2:28
Before we get to March 11th, 2022, Tim's day of transplant, here’s what is ahead:
His stem cells were collected from his blood, then frozen, or cryopreserved. Powerful doses of chemo come next. It helps kill the tiniest of myeloma cells, wiping out the cancer, but it’s administered at such high levels that it also wipes out the immune system.
The next step, the actual transplant, thawing and returning those cells to Tim’s body. This reboots the immune response and his ability to make new, healthy blood cells. It also lowers the risk of infection and other things – like “chemo toxicity,” which can damage the heart, liver and other organs.
This happens in the hospital where Tim was closely monitored for any side effects. What we call “expected effects” since doctors anticipate certain reactions to treatment.
Leading the charge is Tim’s oncologist, Dr. Patricia Kropf of Novant Health Cancer Institute in Charlotte.
Dr. Patricia Kropf 3:36
My goal is to get Tim into a complete remission. And by complete remission, I mean that we can't find any evidence of his myeloma with sophisticated molecular testing. I know, at some point, we will lose our response because that's the natural case of myeloma. But I'd like to ride out that remission as long as we can.
DiPietro 4:01
Keep in mind, and this is important, remission with myeloma is not the same as being cured of myeloma.
Some have a partial response to treatment. Others have a complete or full remission, which can last months, years even. But it’s a relapsing disease. At some point, the cancer will come back. The goal is to keep it at undetectable levels for as long as possible. Doctors put it this way:
Dr. Patricia Kropf 4:31
That's the goal with myeloma, is to keep the circulating myeloma protein undetectable. And the reason we want it undetectable is because that protein - when it circulates - can cause damage to the kidneys, to the bones.
DiPietro 4:43
Back to February 22nd, 2022, at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte where Tim completed the first step: Stem cell collection.
Nurse 4:53
And you see how he’s hooked to the monitor? That’s so we can monitor his vitals. We’re taking blood pressure every 15 minutes.
DiPietro 5:04
Here, blood flowed from a vein, through a catheter and into an apheresis machine, which you'll hear in the background. It separated and collected Tim’s stem cells from his blood while everything else was reinfused back into his bloodstream
[Nurses at Novant Health Cancer Institute] 5:19
“It will circulate his blood, approximately, from head to toe, about four to five times.”
“Unbelievable. That it can move my blood back and forth and I don’t feel anything.”
“It's just a little bit of blood at a time. So, it's taking and returning. Taking and returning.”
“It looks like a lot more than it actually is.”
“OK.”
DiPietro 5:43
Two weeks later, in early March, Tim packs for the hospital – preparing for his stem cells to be reinfused.
Cooper 5:54
Today is March 8th. I’m getting ready for the day before I check into the hospital to have my stem cell transplant. I'm just getting prepped to get ready for my big move in, my “big vacation” so to speak. For two and a half weeks I will be there. So, I’m anxious and excited to move forward with this process. It’s been going great so far. Everything is coming back positive as far as my stem cell counts, all my blood work, and how my system is adjusting to the chemo that I’ve done previously to get ready for this process. So, here's kind of what I've been doing. Putting my suitcase together. These are the items that I've got so far: Regular clothing, T-shirts, sweatshirts, you know, lounge wear, pajamas. I'll put toiletries in there as well. Some other materials, I’m bringing my Bible, to keep me occupied while I’m there.
DiPietro 6:52
The next day, March 9th, he was admitted to Presbyterian Medical Center. Two days later, on March 11th, 2022, it was the day of transplant…which some patients celebrate as their second birthday.
[Cooper talks with a Novant Health team member] 7:13
“So, I get my new birth date, as I've been told. I’ll have my regular birthday in June. And I’ll have a March 11th birthday, as well.”
“So, March 11th is your new birthday?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Oh, how exciting.”
DiPietro 7:23
You'll hear a number of people in these clips. PR’s Robin Baltimore, another colleague of mine. And Dr. Kropf, Tim’s oncologist, who references Dr. Alan Skarbnik, also of Novant Health Cancer Institute.
[Cooper talks to Dr. Patricia Kropf] 7:39
“So, listen. Dr. Skarbnik, who is my partner, we rotate weeks. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“So, he comes on tomorrow, but I'm on the next week.”
“Okay. That's okay. I’ll allow it.” (laughs)
“Oh, thank you. Thank you.”
[Cooper talks with a Novant Health team member] 7:59
“Alright, so you're on your second bag. Tell me how you're feeling right now.”
“I’m in a good space right now. My Benadryl is kicking in. My eyes feel a bit heavy, but I’m feeling good.”
DiPietro 8:08
You'll remember, Tim said the hardest part about fighting a serious disease is the loss of independence. He also hates sitting still. So, a two- to three-week hospital stay presented another challenge.
Cooper 8:21
I’m going for a walk now. Get out of the room and walk the hallways, just get some exercise and get my legs moving. I’m tired of sitting so much and being sedentary.
DiPietro 8:29
That's another thing the two of us can relate on. And to jog your memory from an earlier episode, the PR team members involved in this project, myself included, have spent a year getting to know Tim. Over time, we’ve become friends. I too would struggle with a loss of independence. I pride myself on being able to manage things on my own. I don't like asking for help. So, I really can't imagine what it would feel like. And as frustrating as it can be for Tim, in this case, he found a way to pass his time in the hospital by checking in with us.
Cooper 9:06
So today is March 14th. Day three after the stem cell process. Having some more fatigue and slight nausea. So, I’m eating lighter foods. Toast. Bananas. Real exciting stuff, you know. Other than that, I feel pretty good. Just a little bit of discomfort, obviously, being cooped up here in this room. You know, could be better. Could be worse.
Cooper 9:35
Today is March 17. St. Patrick's Day. See, I’m wearing my green? I’m at day six. My brother, Tony, came to see me. He brought me some stuff from the house that I needed. So, it was good getting another visitor in the hospital that isn’t a nurse or doctor. So, that was a great pick me up today. Thank you, Tony, for that.
DiPietro 9:55
A few days later, on March 20th, Tim encountered his toughest day yet. He learned his mom, Loretta Cooper, had also been in the hospital. And he wasn’t feeling well himself. Those “expected effects” had set in. Things like nausea, fatigue and low blood count.
Cooper 10:15
Sunday evening. It’s day nine of my treatment cycle here at Presbyterian. I just feel really weak and lightheaded. You think you’re in the clear and all of a sudden, you have your highest temperature yet.
And the other sad news I got this weekend is that my mom, she was diagnosed with leukemia. That was another realization that, you know, cancer is no joke. It's out to take you. And it's evil. And I spoke to her on the phone, trying to encourage her. And she was worried about telling me.
That's what mothers are like, right? That's what great mothers do. They always worry about their children first before worrying about themselves. So today is an eye opener. It’s the reality that you never know what's going to happen. You got to have a strong faith, good doctors…
DiPietro 11:00
Better days would follow. Like this one, three days later.
Cooper 11:05
Good morning. Today is March 23rd. Day 13. And we've seen this scene before here, right? Of me packing to come to the hospital. Well, guess what? Today, I'm packing to leave. My white blood cell counts have jumped, tripled since yesterday, and the rest of my platelets and everything else looks great. So, Dr. Kropf gave me the okay. So, I'm excited … more than excited as you might think (laughs) … to get home and to get out of here. I just started packing now. And what's great is that I have a lot less to take back with me because I had my brother Tony come and get a laundry bag to take things last week. So, I'm leaving with a lighter load, and on the road to recovery. So, what a great day today is.
DiPietro 11:51
As Tim checked in, you may have noticed that he was counting the days after transplant …. day three, day six, and so forth. And there’s a reason for this. Day 100 is a stem cell transplant milestone that people often circle on their calendars. It's when the highest risk for critical side effects has passed. It's also when Tim would learn how he responded to it.
Cooper 12:18
I'm here to see Dr. Kropf, my oncologist. My biopsy results should be back in today. So today is the big day, duh duh duh, to get my results to see if I'm going to be in remission or not. So, it's a little nerve wracking.
DiPietro 12:35
That's ahead and Episode Four of the Tim Cooper story on Novant Health Healthy Headlines.
I'm Gina DiPietro, your host, and I'm humbled to tell Tim’s story. If you enjoyed this podcast, leave us a five-star review or share it with friends. Find us on Apple, Google Spotify or just about anywhere you listen to podcasts. And leave Tim a note of encouragement. You'll find his story under Editor’s Picks on www.healthyheadlines.org or use the search feature to type in his name. People can join the discussion at the end of that article. And Tim's responded to many of the comments already. Thank you for listening.