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My New Life Fighting Amyloidosis

In April of 2017, I was diagnosed with Amyloidosis, a rare and deadly bone marrow disorder that causes a buildup of abnormal protein in vital organs, eventually leading to organ failure. I successfully underwent treatment at the Mayo Clinic, and thanks in large part to my early diagnosis I am in complete remission.

Today, I am living in Boston, preparing to apply to medical school. I maintain my focus on becoming a doctor. What type of doctor, though, seems to be more fluid given my recent life experience. In addition, I am a research associate at Harvard Medical School in the Brugge Lab investigating breast cancer. In my spare time, I am an assistant coach for the Bantam A ice hockey team at the Cambridge Youth Hockey Club. I feel great, and am thankful for being disease-free.

Importantly, as a result of my experience and the need to give back, I founded Mackenzie’s Mission to make a difference in the fight against Amyloidosis. I invite you to sign up below and follow my journey.

Building a Caregiver Team

There are times when those afflicted with amyloidosis need assistance — a caregiver. In some instances, such as a stem cell transplant (SCT), the treatment is so extensive that securing a caregiver is required before treatment commences. It is for these more intensive situations that we thought we’d share some thoughts about how to build a caregiver team.