by Walter – March 14, 2026
Karen Update – March 14, 2026
The past several weeks have been some of the most emotionally complex of this entire journey. We’ve had moments of real hope, moments of fear that shook us to the core, and moments where the weight of this disease felt almost unbearable. But through all of it, Karen continues to fight with a courage that humbles me every single day.
The Good: Real Progress and Real-Life Improvements
About a week ago, Karen and I took our first true walk together, thirty minutes through our quiet neighborhood, and she did it without a walker. It felt great, enjoying our walk together again. At home, she’s becoming more active too: making her own juice, washing her dishes, showering, and getting dressed on her own. She even got her first haircut in a year, and the joy on her face said everything.
Medically, the news has been equally encouraging. Karen had been telling people she wanted to “get her number to 100,” which came from a misunderstanding of what I told her: that her Free Kappa Light Chains dropped by 52% in the first month. That level of early response places her among the strongest responders to treatment, patients who statistically have the best outcomes. She has now just passed the 75% marker, which is outstanding.
Her kappa-to-lambda ratio, once extremely abnormal, has now fallen back into the normal range. The charts show a steady decline from values around 9-10 (far above normal) down to normal by February and March. This is one of the clearest signs that the overactive plasma-cell activity is being brought under control.
Phase One of her immunotherapy, Darzalex, Velcade, Dexamethasone, and Revlimid, can take up to six months. However, due to her exceptional response, Dr. Guerrero has already arranged a consultation with Dr. Kanate at the Cancer Transplant Institute. It appears Karen may complete Phase One in just four months.
The Bad: A Consultation That Broke Her Spirit
On March 26, we met with Dr. Kanate for the first time. He is clearly a highly competent physician, and he confirmed her progress. He explained that before moving into Phase Two, Karen will need a new PET scan and a bone marrow biopsy to compare against her December baseline. If all aligns, she could begin Phase Two within four to six weeks.
But the consultation took a painful turn.
Doctors of his caliber often speak in clinical, matter-of-fact terms. When he explained the realities and potential side effects of Phase Two, Karen became overwhelmed. The fear hit her so hard that she broke down into uncontrollable sobbing. Imagine being told you will lose all your hair, feel sick, may have to throw up often, and have a possibility of serious infections. By the time we left the room, she told me she wanted to give up and die.
Hearing that from the person you love most… it tore something inside me that I can’t fully describe. I did everything I could to calm her, to hold her together, to keep her from slipping into that dark place.
Right afterward, she met with a nutrition specialist who reassured her that she’s doing well with her diet despite the constant feeling of fullness caused by her medications. Even then, she continued to have crying spells. It was one of the hardest days we’ve had.
The Ugly: The Reality of Phase Two
Phase Two introduces high-dose melphalan, a powerful chemotherapy drug designed to kill as many remaining myeloma cells as possible. But even at high doses, melphalan cannot eliminate every cell. There are three biological reasons:
- Some myeloma cells divide slowly or lie dormant, making them harder to kill.
- Some hide in protected pockets of bone marrow where chemotherapy has limited reach.
- A tiny population behaves like stem cells, long-lived, resistant, and capable of rebuilding the disease.
This is why myeloma is rarely “cured” outright. But melphalan does destroy the vast majority of remaining cells and creates deep remissions. The strategy becomes:
- Phase One: Knock the disease down hard.
- Phase Two: Kill as many remaining cells as possible.
- Maintenance: Keep the survivors suppressed long-term.
Karen’s early response, especially her normalized light-chain ratio, shows she is responding exactly the way doctors hope for. But the emotional cost of hearing the medical realities has been enormous.
The Real-Life Consequences: The Part No One Likes to Talk About
The early donations we received were nothing short of life-saving. They allowed us to stabilize our home on essentials. Since I was able to catch up on my backlog and sign a new lease through April 2027. Just in time before the ship capsized. That stability has been such a blessing.
Phase Two will be outpatient, which is good for Karen, being home helps her heal. But the logistics are heavy. The clinic is 45 minutes away, and we will need to travel there every other day for at least a month. Our old vehicles simply cannot be trusted for that kind of mileage.
We will need a rental car. A mid-size SUV, something Karen can ride in comfortably, runs about $1,228 per month, plus roughly $150 in fuel for the required trips. That brings the total traveling cost to $1,378 starting mid-to-late April.
Also, Karen needs supplements that help her tremendously with healing and maintaining her physical and emotional strength. In the short term, that adds another $500.
The Grand total of immediate needs runs us $1,878
Karen’s Aunt Nancy has set up a GoFundMe for anyone who wishes to help us bridge this next phase:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-karen-fight-cancer-regain-her-life
Where We Are Today
We are standing in a place where hope and fear coexist. The science says she is responding beautifully. The emotional toll says this journey is far from easy. But we are still here. Still fighting. Still holding on to the possibility of a future together.
Some days are heavy. Some days are lighter. But every day, we keep moving.
Thank you for walking with us through all of it.
Walter
