"As a patient, I have been inspired by HCH's total focus on me—always timely, always with competent professionals in every discipline. The personal care started at my first meeting with the Clinical Coordinator and has never been compromised. During treatment, no provider walked into my room without direct and current knowledge of my situation, medications and status. Every nurse call was answered by a person, never with the impersonal intercom of other hospitals. Interactions with the staff provided continuous learning about the details of my disease and education about personal activities that better prepared me for the stem cell transplant and recovery."
—Bruce Boldrin

The first time I made contact with the team at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic I felt well at ease. We've been a team ever since.
—Kay Gust

"At age 24, I was diagnosed with AML. Although my world was turned upside down, the moment I walked into Huntsman Cancer Institute I sensed a spirit of hope and healing. The atmosphere and the care I received gave me the courage to fight. I am forever grateful for those that saved my life and the facility that made it the best experience possible.

"I will fight a good fight,

I will finish my course,

I will keep the faith!"
—Becky Gardiner

"If I had to rate the BMT clinic at Huntsman Cancer Hospital, I would give it 10 out of 10. The entire staff is wonderful. They are compassionate, caring, very positive, and eager to please. They are professional and very well trained in what they do. I have complete trust and confidence in them, not because of the facility they represent but because of the manner, dignity, and integrity with which they perform their work. Although they are professional and well trained in their various responsibilities, there is a friendliness and warmth that is felt. I would recommend the BMT clinic to anyone who is in need of the services provided there."
—Katie Clawson

"I went through stem cell transplant and chemo at the Huntsman Cancer Institute BMT program almost three years ago. They still monitor me there. I have always been treated like I was the only one there. Their concern, compassion, and professional care helped me to know that I could conquer this disease. Thank you to the staff at the BMT program for saving my life."
—Dan Hellewell

"I have been extremely fortunate to have my multiple myeloma treated at Huntsman Cancer Institute by such caring, empathetic, and competent professionals. The entire clinic staff has been nothing less than outstanding. When I had complications, Dr. Zangari led a team of researchers, nurses, and other professionals in resolving those complications. Because of their caring attitude and outstanding skill, I have been in remission for almost four years and look forward to a bright future with my husband, children, and grandchildren. The BMT clinic is a first-class facility with outstanding professionals and state-of-the-art research."
—Peg Grippe

"I was admitted to the hospital in April 2009. The doctors I initially saw knew something was seriously wrong, but they weren't sure exactly what it was. It looked like some type of blood cancer, probably leukemia. But when further tests concluded it was multiple myeloma, the doctors suggested I go to the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) to receive my treatment.

"The doctor who became my oncologist at HCI later told me the diagnosing physicians did not really think I had much of a chance when I was sent to him, but he always knew I was curable. I was just about as close to death as you can come when I made it to the BMT inpatient unit. I was scared out of my mind. But I also had faith, thanks to the doctors' reassurance, that I could get better. And I did. We went with an aggressive treatment to attack an aggressive disease that had ravaged my body, fracturing every single vertebra, leaving me unable to walk or even sit up on my own for months. My kidneys almost shut down completely due to all of the calcium passing through them from my bone deterioration.

"Those first few weeks of my diagnosis were some of the scariest of my life, but the doctors acted quickly and efficiently to get me back on the road to recovery. I always felt like they had my best interest at heart, which made me want to help out when they asked if I would take part in a clinical study, even when I found out my treatment would not be any different and it would just serve to help out those who would be facing this same disease in the future.

"Through the weeks, months, and now years, the nurses, doctors, physician assistants, and all the staff have become one of the strongest parts of my support group. When I go up to the clinic for my routine visits I honestly feel like I'm visiting my family and I'm happy to be there. It makes it so much easier to deal with such a heavy burden when you know you are surrounded by the strong arms of people who are always willing to help hold you up. Even though some of my darkest days were spent with the BMT staff, it means so much to know that they were always there for me and will always be there for me in some way or other, no matter what."
—Brandon Plewe

"This month marks the four-year anniversary of complete remission for Marty—an amazing thought, given the dismal prognosis we received when he was diagnosed in early November of 2007. We have the tandem transplant protocol and the wonderful care provided by HCI's multiple myeloma program staff to thank for that.

"Marty started his treatment in February of 2008, just as the program was getting started at HCI. We were all new to the tandem transplant protocol then, and we've all learned how hard and how all-consuming it can be for patients, caregivers, and family as well as for the team at HCI. To say that the multiple myeloma staff exhibit the highest professional standards understates the day-to-day reality of the treatment they provide. The team members know their jobs. They know what they must do to treat their patients, and they provide that treatment with skill and kindness. They also know how to tell the truth, how to support, how to help carry the burdens in the most difficult times and to celebrate the joys of the myriad successes, small and large, along the way. We have come to trust them to do their best, to have in mind what is best for us, to answer our questions, to accept our decisions, and to stand with us as we confront this vicious disease together. We are deeply grateful."
—Melene R. Dodson

"My wife and I grew up and lived all our lives in southern California. I worked for 35 years in a manufacturing/management environment. In January 2007, I broke a rib playing basketball. It was not the first time I had broken a rib. However, this time the break would not heal and my doctor ran several tests to see what might be going on. Eventually, in May 2007, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. After the initial shock, we met with an oncologist and began the battle.

"After chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant in southern California, I eventually plateaued. At the end of 2010, we felt I needed additional help. We had heard quite a bit about Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) through word of mouth and what I could find on the Internet. We made a daring move to Salt Lake City and contacted HCI about treatment.

"At the time we began my evaluation, I was hospitalized at the University of Utah because of pneumonia and the high cancer levels in my body. I have no memory of the first three weeks I was hospitalized and had lost the use of my legs. But I received incredible treatment and was able to be ready for a stem cell transplant in April of 2011. I also began therapy to try and regain use of my legs and became mobile again. With the hard work and dedication of the BMT staff, I have made tremendous progress and have achieved my goals.

"Through our sometimes quite difficult experiences over the last year, we have grown to find a greater faith in our family and beliefs, and a great love and appreciation for those in the BMT program who have served me and my family. They have grown to be an integral part of my family."
—Jeff Griffin