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 achieved complete remission.

A year ago, in December 2018, I moved back to the Washington D.C. area after finishing a nearly two-year term as a research associate at Harvard Medical School. I learned an incredible amount about scientific research, its value, and the translation of the work back into the clinic. While in Northern Virginia, I have applied to medical school for Fall 2020 and am working through the process. I am very invested in Mackenzie’s Mission and our exciting Amyloidosis Speakers Bureau. I have spoken to students at Mayo Clinic, Tufts University, and University of Illinois, Chicago, and found each to be extraordinarily rewarding. I shadow an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Inova Fairfax Hospital, where I’ve been shadowing on and off for over seven years. In my spare time, I continue coaching youth hockey, something I have come to truly love, and volunteer as a head coach for a U19 girls ice hockey travel team. I am on an immunotherapy regimen to keep my disease at bay and continue to feel great.

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