MMRF AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT
Debbie and Kent Wells
D
ebbie and Kent Wells have lived and worked
in the Washington, DC area for over 30 years.
Native Kansans, each found their way to
Washington to pursue their interests in politics and
public policy, settling in Alexandria, Virginia, where they
raised two sons, Trevor and Bryan. Trevor is a pediatric
and adolescent Psychiatrist and Bryan is a Legislative
Assistant for health policy in the US Senate.
In 2007, during a routine annual physical, Kent was informed of higher
protein levels in his blood. Following advice to see a specialist, he was
later diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma. While no immediate
treatment was needed, suddenly, cancer was a part of the Wells’ lives.
By 2008, Kent’s myeloma progressed, and he began treatment that
would continue for the next four and a half years. Suddenly a caregiver
to a myeloma patient, Debbie learned to be strong and supportive
while contending with her own questions and emotions.
“When Kent was first
diagnosed I did a lot of
research and came to
the conclusion that the
MMRF was the best
source. Working for a
firm that advocates for
scientific research, I
know how important it
is, and the MMRF was in
line with that approach.”
– Debbie Wells
16
The Wells soon discovered that they were far from alone in their situation.
“I was truly amazed that there were so many people that we know who
were dealing with this too,” Kent commented. The Wells’ support network
eventually inspired the Multiple Myeloma Charity Classic—a golf and tennis
outing put together by their friends. Since its inception, the Multiple
Myeloma Charity Classic has grown to encompass over 100 attendees.
“To do an event like this, you need a good core group of volunteers and
strong partners,” Debbie said. The MMRF became one of these partners.
Kent credits the foundation with strongly supporting the event, which has
generated more than $1 million for multiple myeloma research to date.
In 2013, Kent’s treatment began to lose effectiveness; a stem cell
transplant was scheduled for the day before his 60th birthday.
Post-transplant, Kent went into partial remission and has been
on a maintenance dose of Revlimid for the last three years.
Today, he is optimistic about the pipeline of treatment options in front of
him thanks to the MMRF. “We are lucky that we are talking about living
with multiple myeloma for a decade now,” Debbie said. “Dealing with
that has been so much easier with the dedicated support of family and
friends and the MMRF — which I include in the friends category.”
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