Medspoke Interviews Multiple Myeloma Patient Darrell Law at the 2025 IMF Patient and Family Seminar in Los Angeles

Anna: Well, thank you so much for chatting with Medspoke today. We really appreciate it, and I'll ask you to introduce yourself.  

Darrell: Thanks for having me. I'm Darrell Law, multiple myeloma patient.  

Anna: And what inspired you to come to the Patient and Family Seminar today? 

Darrell: Just because I'm such a different case than a lot of what you see in multiple myeloma, and, I'm kind of a unique case with kind of how everything came about and the progression of it was either really fast or really slow at other times. And, it's also kind of complicated at times, so I just needed to further my own education on the matter other than what I know just from what I'm feeling. I wanna understand it on a more scientific - not scientific level, if that makes sense, pathological.  

Anna: Yeah, for sure. And how has the myeloma community supported you in your journey?  

Darrell: It's uh, it's a tough one. There are days where I feel great, like I could run a marathon, you know, but then the next day I might feel extremely floored. I might feel fatigued, nauseous, might be confused. So you just never really know what you're gonna get on the day. So, you just kinda learn. I learned mostly just how to - because I'm a guy that likes to take things in stride - life kinda forced me to slow down and really focus on focusing on myself, getting better, how I need to and stuff like that, which was very uncomfortable for me because I'm very ambitious, like I said. So being forced to slow down, look at myself, and understand what I'm going through a lot better, I think it's just kinda what I needed. And humbling in a way too.  

Anna: Absolutely. And what message would you share with others living with multiple myeloma? 

Darrell: Oh, man. I get it. We get it. You know? I'm only one person, you know? And, just to understand that there'll be days where, like I say, you feel up and days where you feel down, and I'm not gonna be that cheesy guy. You know what I mean? I never feel like, I get it, it's a struggle, but you're doing it even when you say - even when you feel like you're having a down day where you just feel like absolute ****, you're exactly where you need to be. Keep that, keep it in stride and because it's a marathon, you know, and we all twist our ankle a couple times. So, you know, so it's mostly that and I say, yeah, get your education up on it too. It just helps me put things into so much of a better perspective to give myself that grace of, like, if I'm not feeling okay, that's where I'm supposed to be right now. Or if I'm doing good, that's where I'm supposed to be right now. So, it gives me that grace of recovery that, you know, a lot of people feel the need to, you know, be held hostage by their own situation and they feel, you know, like, completely overtaken by it. And I'm like, no. You take the situation by the reins. And it just makes it for a lot less of a rough. 

Anna: Yeah. That's a great way to look at it.  

Darrell: Yeah.  

Anna: And is it your first time at this event?  

Darrell: At this event, yeah. Yeah. I got lucky enough to be invited here, so I'm grateful to be here.  

Anna: That's great. And I know you touched on this a bit, but what gives you strength on those harder days? 

Darrell: A good support system’s always nice. I mean, I have my mom, my dad, and my dog. Simple things in life that bring you momentary things of joy. We have a fountain in the backyard where I have tea, I read a lot, you know, naps in the sun, things like that. Just find your momentary little bits of peace because things get so overwhelming with information and all these words that sound terrifying and that people don't understand. So, it's just finding moments where you can kinda step away from everything and kinda compose. Because that's honestly the thing that's been my biggest support is knowing when to step back away from everything, when I can.  

Anna: Absolutely. Awesome. And is there anything else you'd like to share that you feel we haven't touched on yet today?  

Darrell: It's a struggle for everybody. It's not just me, you know? There's my family. My dog feels it. My friends feel it. My coworkers feel - it's just one of those things where cancer is corrosive. And that's why people are like “The Big C?” and they automatically take a half step back out of caution, you know what I mean? One, it's just to be like, we're still human beings, if you touch us, we won’t implode or, you know? But two, it's also we get that it takes its toll on the people around us too, so it's a constant struggle on both sides. So I just want people to understand that a little bit more. Like, you don't have to be awkward around me. It's awkward for me too, you know? So, yeah, so just give us - just give each other space and give each other a little leeway to be like, let's all freak out together, kinda. And let's all get through it together, you know, because it's not for, you know, there's the remissions and there's the stuff like that. So let's just give each other the grace to be like, it all fits up for everybody, but don't abandon each other either.  

Anna: For sure. Yeah. Well, thank you so much, Darrell. We really appreciate you taking the time to chat with us today. 

Darrell: Oh, no problem.