LAWRENCE COUNTY - MAY 1, 2023 - I am Bill Raines founder and editor of the Lawrence County Zephyr.
Due to health issues, I have decided to end the publication of the Lawrence County Zephyr effective immediately.
Since January 2017, I was diagnosed with Stage Three Multiple Myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Healthy plasma cells help you fight infections by making antibodies that recognize and attack germs.
In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications.
Treatment for multiple myeloma isn't always necessary right away. If the multiple myeloma is slow growing and isn't causing signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend close monitoring instead of immediate treatment. For people with multiple myeloma who require treatment, a number of options are available to help control the disease.
Through the years, I have been on chemo treatment, Bone Marrow Transplant at the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis, and chemo follow a relapse of the cancer 18 months later.
About 24 weeks ago, I have decided to no longer take any more treatment for my cancer. There were other options, which included CART T cell therapy, and some other treatment options available. However, I have decided to discontinue those options, based on the quality of life issues, finances and other considerations that went into this decision.
Many people do not know the amount of time that it took to produce the news, attend meetings and verify the information on every news story that was published. There were many times, I was up more than 19 hours a day covering various news events and then having to write, and then publish these features.
This decision was very difficult to make as I really enjoyed meeting all of you. I want to thank you all for your support since October 2021.
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Paid for by the committee to elect Dan Bortner Bedford City Council At-Large
