…she recalled. “They stayed with me 24 hours a day.”
After her stem cell transplant, Dr. Zimmerman gave the option for Jarrett-Black to participate in an ongoing clinical trial of a “maintenance therapy” for multiple myeloma. At the time, the University of Chicago Medicine was taking part in a multi-center national study of an investigational medication to improve survival after stem cell transplantation. Despite past preconceived notions of clinical trials against African Americans, Jarrett-Black decided to enroll in the study.
Six months into her trial period, Zimmerman informed Jarrett-Black that an interim analysis of study results showed the medication significantly improved survival among patients.
Approaching the fifth year of her cancer’s remission, Jarrett-Black continues to take the medication once a day. She says she hasn’t had any setbacks and is at her strongest ever. When she isn’t working as a substitute teacher for Chicago public schools, she spends time visiting Chicago’s libraries, parks, concerts and lakefront.
Jarrett-Black sees Zimmerman every few months to have her blood checked for signs of relapse. During her visits, she often tells him, “I am so glad you decided to be a doctor.”
She also gives high marks to the University of Chicago Medicine staff — from the valets to the clinic coordinators to the nurses in the clinics and in the hospital. “From the time I walked in until I left the hospital, everyone was fantastic,” she said. “They made every accommodation for me and were always encouraging.”
She added, “I can’t say enough about the compassion that was shown to me and how it made me feel. When you are really sick, everything counts.”
Post originally seen here. For more on what Multiple Myeloma is and what you can do about it, click here.