INTRODUCING PARALLAX JOURNEYS
Inspirational Stories about Surviving Cancer
In 2019, my life took an unexpected turn: I was diagnosed with primary plasma cell leukemia, one of the rarest and deadliest blood cancers known to medicine. From that moment, my life became a cycle of intense chemotherapy, anti-cancer drugs, and ever-shifting treatment plans. Although I achieved remission, it never lasted. Doctors had to cycle through new drugs, alternative approaches, and anything that might work.
Then, in 2021, Bristol Myers Squibb accepted me for a clinical trial for CAR-T cell therapy. This decision was not just a treatment, but a beacon of hope, a ray of light in the darkness of my diagnosis. It changed everything, bringing a new sense of relief and optimism that I want to share with you all.
CAR-T is a revolutionary development in modern medicine. It reengineers a patient’s immune (T) cells in a lab to recognize and destroy cancer cells with extraordinary precision. The process involves extracting the patient’s T cells, modifying them in a lab to express a specific receptor that targets cancer cells, and then reintroducing these modified cells back into the patient’s body. In contrast to chemotherapy, CAR-T spares healthy cells, thus minimizing side effects. Brutal fatigue, nausea, and hair loss are absent; only precise, effective treatment remains, providing a sense of reassurance and comfort.
Thanks to CAR-T, I achieved what’s called “near-complete remission”—a turnaround from my original prognosis. While it’s not a cure, and my test results still show minor abnormalities, I haven’t needed chemotherapy in over 18 months. My immune system continues to fight for me with reengineered T cells hunting down cancer cells in realtime.
Bristol Myers Squibb gave me more than a treatment—they gave me a second chance. My existence shows that well-funded and rigorously tested science can produce miraculous results. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to give back and share my learning. I promote cancer awareness through interviews and presentations, highlighting that cancer is not always fatal. I believe that sharing our experiences and knowledge can empower and inform others.
Doctors gave my family a grim prognosis in 2019, predicting I might not live to see 2020. Yet here I am, alive in 2025. Faith, superb medical attention across seven hospitals, a committed caregiver, and my optimistic perspective contributed to my survival.
My story is not just about survival. It’s about the power of hope, research, and resilience working together.
Parallax Journeys
Positive feedback led me to create Parallax Journeys, a speaker series for military members and veterans with cancer. The name comes from the concept of parallax—different perspectives looking at the same truth—in our case, cancer.
Parallax Journeys presentations are a one-hour multimedia storytelling experience delivered by three cancer survivors. Together, we educate, entertain, and empower. Our stories are intensely personal yet universally resonant—ideal for current and newly diagnosed survivors, caregivers, healthcare teams, medical students, support groups, churches, campus assemblies, and any organization seeking to uplift and inform.
To learn more about Parallax Journeys or schedule a live or virtual presentation, visit www.parallex.org, e-mail [email protected], text 703.955.2393.
Veterans Fighting Cancer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qs6e5AK4cE&t=4s