For those of you who missed it I have added links to Elijah's interview here. Just move your cursor over the pics or label under the pics and click. An NBC commercial will air first and then the news piece will come on. Thanks!


Fighting multiple myeloma


Ex-Oakland Raiders battles myeloma


New findings in myeloma research

Tonight's the night! It's kind of excitng, in a bittersweet way. While I am so glad that the disease is getting some exposure, I sure wouldn't have minded not being a part of the club. But oh well, we're card carrying members and duty calls. All I want is a cure. I have a husband and my children have a father that we want to grow old with. That's all I want, a simple cure.

FIGHTING A KILLER

By Clare Duffy, NBC News producer

Editor's note: Robert Bazell's report airs on tonight's broadcast. Watch a preview here.
One of the great privileges of working on this broadcast is the opportunity to dig into stories that matter - especially stories that have personal significance as well. Today's piece by Robert Bazell on multiple myeloma is, for me, one of those stories.
A year ago today, my uncle, the actor Peter Boyle, lost his battle with this disease at age 71. It took Gen. Wayne Downing, a much beloved figure here at Nightly News, as well. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, and it lays waste to a person's immune system. It was a terrible way to go, and unimaginably hard for my aunt and cousins to witness. But they were helped tremendously by some very kind and gifted people, in particular my uncle's physician, Dr. Brian Durie, who is featured in tonight's story. Dr. Durie and his wife, Susie Novis, head the International Myeloma Foundation, which is doing groundbreaking research. Some of the results were presented at the American Society of Hematology conference just this week - in particular, some intriguing findings about the impact of exposure to certain toxins in the environment on a person's tendency to develop this disease. Unlike most other cancers, rates of diagnosis are increasing for myeloma and it's vital to figure out why.
Only a few months after my uncle's death, my aunt, Loraine Alterman Boyle - one of the bravest people I know - turned her attention to raising money to help fund that research. And she's not the only one - in tonight's story, we will introduce you to Elijah and Kimberly Alexander. Two years ago, at age 35, Elijah - a retired linebacker for the Oakland Raiders - was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Not so long ago, this disease was confined to older folks. That's not the case anymore. Multiple myeloma took more than 40 pounds off this tower of strength, leaving him barely able to walk across the room. But with the help of his family, and some new therapies, Eli's in remission and he and Kimberly are raising money as well. This disease, while rare, seems to mobilize those who get an unwanted trip to, as Susie Novis calls it, "Myeloma World." Eli and Kim are giving back in a big way, and like my aunt, are doing everything they can to see that others might not have to go through what they've experienced.
There are a great many resources online for multiple myeloma, including:

The International Myeloma Foundation

Elijah Alexander's Tackle Myeloma Foundation

Kim Alexander's blog about her family's experience with myeloma

The Whirlwind

The only word to describe the time period between the golf tournament and now is simply CRAZY!!!!!!!! I don't know where to start so I'll just go in chronological order. The golf tournament was another big success. We're set to give the Medical City Dallas children's hospital another check next week. We're also donating to IMF (International Myeloma Foundation) and MMRF. In early November I had the opportunity to fly to L.A. attend the IMF's Celebration of Life event for actor Peter Boyle. It was awesome. I was nervous because I really didn't want to go by myself. I'd never been to L.A. before, plus I figured the IMF people would be more interested in meeting him than me. In addition to that, both boys football teams were in the playoff hunt so the games were really important. Hence the reason why I had to travel alone. Duty called and coach wasn't about to let his little Wildcats or Raven's defense operate without him at that point in the season. It paid off. Both boys teams ended up advancing and winning their championship games. The IMF event was awesome, the people there were so friendly and inviting. Kelly Cox and his wife, Mary Turner made me feel right at home. I even got to experience walking the red carpet like a real celeb and that was a hoot.

I flew back to Dallas to get ready for our trip to Florida for the Thanksgiving break. I don't think Elijah and I had been together in Gainesville since little Eli was about a year old. So with that being said I was in major reminisce mode and dragged my husband, our sons and my dad to the exact spot where I met my husband almost 15 years ago. So what if I was having a dork moment, Norman Gym will always have a special place in my heart, even though it doesn't look the same (generous funding from all those GATOR championships have rendered parts of the campus virtually unrecognizable now :-).

The trip was very relaxing, exactly what we needed. As soon as we got back to Dallas it was time to get the ball rolling with finalizing everything for our first ever TMF Appreciation dinner for our sponsors and donors. I wanted to make sure the event was really special, but upon hearing that Kelly from the IMF and a journalist from NBC would be attending, that made the need for a great event more important. The 9group (they operate The Ghost Bar, N9ne Steakhouse and Nove Italiano) hosted the event for us and it could not have been any more perfect. I was nervous about talking to the crowd about Elijah. I tried on a few occasions to write a speech, but the right words wouldn't come out. Sooo, I just grabbed a note card, wrote down some words to remind of key points and prayed that when I stood up there I didn't sound like a blubbering idiot. I don't exactly remember what I said, but as long as I didn't trip and fall or cry, I was going to consider it a success. I'll post more pics from the event later. It was so nice to be able to meet and mingle with the people that have provided us and our foundation so much support. And the food was delicious. I'm still a bit ticked about the waitstaff taking my plate during my speech. The chicken marsala, mac and cheese and spring rolls has earned Eli the right to take me to Nove and N9ne whenever he'd like. I also need to see the Ghost Bar on a regular night too. Sean (from the Ghost Bar) took care of us, no other way to put it. I'm a fan for life.

Below is a picture of Eli being interviewed by Clare Duffy from NBC. Well she's not exactly interviewing him in this shot. She's thumbing through his latest obsession, a gift from the PGA Superstore. It's a big book with info on world's best golf courses. Just what Eli needed, printed excuses to justify gallivanting off to exotic places just to hit a little white ball. I really don't get it. But that's okay, I'm sure he feels the same way when he seeing lusting over a pair of shoes or a new handbag. The NBC crew hung out with Eli and hopefully the footage they collected will be a prat of a story shedding light on myeloma. Anything to bring attention to the disease, I am all for. Hopefully we'll get info on will it will air so that I can shoot an e-mail out to EVERYONE!!

I have a new love for our TMF. I loved it before, but I wasn't ready to embrace it. Everything we had been through was still too fresh. It took hearing people mispronounce the disease and not fully comprehend that Elijah actually still suffers from it for me plunge in. Who better to explain the hell the disease can cause than the person who watched it morph her husband. When he came home from his doctor's appointment last week and reminded me that 18 months ago he didn't have the needed white and red blood cells or platelets in him due to the massive amounts of chemo he was given for his transplant it hit me how far he's come. That's what I am hanging on. There has to be a reason God has kept him here for us and whatever it takes to keep him here, we just have to get it done.

We're three weeks away from 2008 and the trend I have noticed is that when I have claimed an amazing year, an amazing year occurs. So let me state it now, I thank God for another year with my husband and another year for our foundation to make a difference in other people's lives. I won't be shy and will ask for more of the same for 2008.

I'll try to update the blog before New Year's, but if I don't, here's hoping you and your family have a

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Love ya, Kimberly

PS-Sorry for the long post, but it was long overdue.

2 years Later - Elijah is still going strong!

Pro athletes support TMF

(Russell Maryland, Kevin Mathis, Billy Joe Tolliver, Gerald Sowell, Andre Coleman, Elijah, Spud Webb, Johnny Harris, Glen Sanders, Barrett Brooks, Patrick Crayton and Ray Crockett

not pictured - Terrance Shaw, Keith Davis, Mel Owens, Marion Barber Tim Brown, Micheal Booker, Leonard Humphries)

Elijah and Kimberly

TMF Board at the 2007 Celebrity Golf Tournament

Hi everyone! It has been 2 years since Elijah's diagnosis and as you can see he's still non-stop. We are already working on next year's fundraising events. Final numbers for this year's tournament are still pending a few outstanding invoices. We had soooooooo much fun this year! The turnout was better than last year, the support from the retired and active NFL/NBA players was great and everyone is looking forward to the next event!!!!

Myeloma Mobile comes to Dallas, Texas

Elijah, Kelly Cox and Micheal Tuohy

Just before we left to go on our trip to San Diego we had the opportunity to meet Micheal Tuohy and his family. Micheal also has myeloma and to bring attention to the disease he and his family have been driving cross country in their RV that has been signed by well wishers. It was so wonderful to meet them. It was also my first opportunity to meet several members of the North Texas Myeloma Support Group, an organization that provided me with so much helpful information when Eli was first diagnosed that I will be forever grateful. Kelly Cox from the International Myeloma Foundation was also here and he let me know there are lots of advancements being made towards understanding and treating the disease. That was great to hear.

Elijah is super busy preparing for his 2nd Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament. We are so excited because he is getting some major support. Last year was amazing, but I suspect that this year will be even better!!!!!! We jetted off to San Diego for our yearly getaway just for us before the summer ends and football season begins. It was wonderful, a nice little break before his event and coaching duties call. As you can see, he's looking good and feeling good, still putting me to shame by waking up at 5am to work out. He has a brithday coming up in a couple of days, the big 3-7!!!!!!!!! No surprise party this year though, we'll keep it this year and plan for something huge in about 3 years. Until then, please keep us, and fellow cancer survivors, lifted in prayer.

Love ya, Kimberly

Eli on Coronado Island

May 27, 2007 - Eli and Kimberly On Their 12 Year Anniversary

I know, I know, it's been far too long since I updated the blog, but it's truly because I have been SWAMPED! I don't even know where to begin so I'll just start off by saying Elijah is doing great. He's had a few bugs that gave us scares during the spring (Strep throat, that tummy virus that everyone got), but everything was fine and he's still going strong. The Tackle Myeloma Foundation's Poker Tournament in May was a big success. We had a great turnout and exceeded our financial expectations. You can see more info about it at http://www.tacklemyelomafoundation.com/ . Now we're moving ahead with our next event, the celebrity golf tournament at Craig Ranch. Eli just wrapped up coaching our youngest son's flag football team and is looking forward to the fall when he resumes coaching duties for both boys. I promise not to take so long before I post again. Thank you again for your prayers!
Kimberly

I can't believe it is already March. This time last year Elijah was in the hospital recovering from his stem cell transplant. This year he is STILL officially CANCER FREE!!!! Elijah went in for a complete check up and the doctor said he is doing well. He received all of his immunizations and his biopsy came back with no traces of cancer. We are so happy! Elijah is still going strong, working out, golfing, now helping the boys with their baseball, and building houses. The man is truly amazing! Thank you for your prayers and support. I will continue to keep you posted about Elijah's progress and fund raising efforts for cancer research. God is good and we will never forget that or take it for granted.

Kimberly

PS- I took the picture above when Eli and I took the boys and their friends Brady and Peyton to an old school car show. We had soooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun. Big Eli has decided he wants to buy himself another classic car for his 40th birthday (that's 3 years from now). He wants to buy one made in the year 1970, the year he was born. He fell in love with a blue one at the car show. I'm glad it wasn't for sale since we have no room for more cars.