April 2025

Hi, my name is Cliff Craig.

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in October of 2017 at the age of 64.

As a retired logger, I’ve suffered my share of workplace accidents, including a crushed leg. I always thought I had high pain tolerance, that is until I was in agony from what would by my myeloma diagnosis.  

Before I was diagnosed, I remember feeling as though someone was eating at my bones. It was a pain like none other I had experienced. Essentially, the myeloma had made my bones like a block of Swiss cheese, and we couldn’t seem to get the pain under control – even with 160 mg of hydromorphone a day! 

When you receive a cancer diagnosis, you start to do things differently than you did before. I first felt that I was stripped of virtually everything I used to be and was capable of doing. Time, treatment and support – amazing support – helped to change that. And, while I may not have a whack of energy, I’m happy to be alive. 

Myeloma is a terrible, difficult and debilitating disease. Expensive drugs, stem cell transplants, and constant blood tests make this journey very taxing. Saying that, I, like so many Multiple Myeloma (MM) warriors, am very grateful to live in a day and age where we have many different protocols available to us and for our incredible doctors to recommend.

Of course, all of this takes a huge amount of money, and so Wendy and I do what we can to donate and help raise funds for this battle to live longer.  

Getting involved really helps. While I was able, we participated in Myeloma Canada’s Multiple Myeloma March in Nanaimo, BC, and a few years later we organized a virtual Myeloma Canada Ride with our team, the MM Annihilators, in the North Island, BC. We’re members of a fantastic MM support group – the North Island Multiple Myeloma Support Group – which props us all up. Some people are faced with fighting this battle on their own, which is a very difficult journey. I would urge them to find and join a local support group so they connect with others.   

I have been very fortunate to have to the support of so many. My wife Wendy, Wonderful Wendikins, is my steady Angel for whom my love has no bounds. Her love, care, and support have given me never ending joy and hope. Wendy’s three sisters Kerry, Sue, and Shelley support us to no end. I refer to them as our Three Angels. My sister Jodi (Jo), our nephew Josh, niece Sara, and grandnieces Elise and Annalia, who all live in Brooklyn, were incredible, coming out to visit me at my worst. At the time, 6-month old baby Elise, with her know-all eyes, spirited me to fight harder.  

Jo, Kiera, Elise, Josh, Annalia, Sara in Brooklyn, NY 

I have also been blessed by Angels in my doctors and nurses. They’re Angels in my mind for helping me stay on this earth and I think about them all the time. They give us so much, pass all their strength along, and have shown Wendy and I so much empathy and compassion. Their energy and good vibes emanate from them to me, and give Wendy and me joy and hope. 

Through this adventure of ours, we have met many beautiful souls and this I would change for nothing. 

I wrote and recorded my song “This old body used to be fine” to help me through my adventure and experience with myeloma…I hope it helps you too.

Remember,

“Life is an adventure all the time,

Celebrate life as I do mine!”

Sincerely,

Cliff

Myeloma Canada charitable number: 862533296RR0001