In Dexter’s Own Words
Dexter Vines is a comic book artist and inker best known for his work on The Avengers and The Hulk.
He is now suffering from Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer that also weakens the bones.
The following is Dexter’s story, shared in his own words—a raw and honest look at what it means to face a rare blood cancer diagnosis and fight to keep going.
When Everything Changed
Multiple myeloma is basically a rare blood cancer of the white blood cells. What the white bloods cells do is they protect your bones. And this [multiple myeloma] gets into your bone marrow and weakens your bones.
I’d been having lower back pains, you know, throughout December . But around New Year’s Eve, it felt like things changed. I could barely stand and when I did stand it was just excruciating pain.
Basically my back was just broken four different spots.
Part two of my situation was that I had a broken back. How did this happen? So I decided to go to the hospital and get checked and, you know, just have some further test run which led me to find out that I have this rare blood cancer.
The Reality Of Treatment
I’m going through chemo right now. Then once the chemo is complete, we’re gonna do a stem cell transplant. I’ve got some work ahead of me.
I have chemo usually on Mondays. Some days it’ll wipe me out completely. Some days, I’m fine. Some days I’ll be fine for a couple of days and then – Bam! – I wake up and then, you know, I have no energy.
Living With Uncertainty
My right hand was completely useless which really scared me since that’s how, you know, what I use to make a living.
Reaching Out For Help
Unable to work and now faced with a mountain of medical bills, Dexter called Hero Initiative while he was still in the hospital.
Hero Initiative is like that secret big brother that you feel like you can call. I mean, initially I was scared to reach out to you guys.
The Support That Made A Difference
Talking to you guys, you guys were very helpful and friendly and reached out when I needed help with equipment. A walker, mattress, and a bunch of other little medical supplies I would have thought would have never entered my life.
You guys have been, helping with mortgage payments. Definitely just giving me a little bit more piece of mind.
Holding On To Progress
My feeling in my hand is slowly coming back. It’s about 60 percent back now. It’s still partially numb but I have strength. I’m able to restart sketching now. I just hope every day that I wake up, it’s a little better.
The Power Of Community
Dexter’s good friends wanted to help out with the medical expenses and bill too. They started a ‘Go Fund Me’ campaign for Dexter as well.
That just blew me away. How people jumped in and supported my on my ‘Go Fund Me’. Just seeing the outpouring of the ‘Go Fund Me’ and the love and support people showed me definitely brought a tear to me eye.
People going through difficult time and there’s a LOT of people who are going through some difficult times, you gotta take it one day at a time because I have great days. I have days when I’m feeling pretty good and I have days going through this where I’m just like, “Man! This sucks!”
There’s a good chance I’m gonna get past this and live a pretty normal life.
