Daimon Diggs is a 51 year old husband and father of four. He was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2011. Read his #StayingSagerStrong story in his owns words here!
ABOUT DAIMON
My name is Daimon Diggs. I was born in Harlem, New York in 1968 during a time when a lot of the civil rights leaders were being murdered. I still can remember as a kid playing in the very room where Malcolm X was killed. The same room was used as a church on Sundays when I was younger. As I look back on my life now, at 51, there have been a lot of transformations, twists and turns that prepared me for a lifelong fight with terminal cancer. Since I am not the type of person that focuses on life’s challenges or past successes, I will just provide a summary list of events that I can expand on as requested. This season of life is focused on pouring into others and perhaps by me being transparent, will be the catalyst for someone else to jump over their current life hurdle.
- At 10, I almost died from poor management at a week-long summer camp. After being in the hospital’s ICU for a week with no improvement, I can remember my Grandmother praying over me for what seemed like hours, but it wasn’t until the next day I was better. (God moment)
- Because dyslexia was so misunderstood in the late 70s, I was considered mentally disabled during my elementary school years. My mom moved us to California and all copies of my education records were lost. I went from special education classes to advance college prep classes in the eighth grade. (God moment)
- I left my mom’s house with nothing when I was 15 because her new husband insisted I sell drugs.
- I actually managed to graduate high school with a .95 GPA (This was considered D- avg at that time.)
- Because my Godmother told me she believed in me, I took the SAT and scored 1600 after my teacher told me I was wasting her money and my time. (When someone tells you “no”…that’s the first sign you can do it and then smile.)
- I entered the Army in December, 1986 because I knew doing nothing would equal a life of nothing.
- When I was going into my 4th year of service in the Army, I had a major accident where 4 fingers were amputated on my dominant hand and I had to relearn how to do the basics in life through physical therapy.
- Also, during my accident when I lost my fingers, I almost bled to death. I lost 3.5 pints of blood and no units were available at the hospital or military base where I was located. I can still hear the nurses and doctor consulting each other on what they were going to do as I was going in and out of consciousness. Then I remember my best friend busting into the room as they were saying there was nothing they could do but make me comfortable. He knew we had the same blood type and insisted they do a direct transfusion which saved my life. (God moment)
- After leaving the Army, I used the GI bill to go to school at San Diego City College. It was here where I learned that people with dyslexia learn differently. Using the tips and techniques I learned at community college, I was able to graduate from San Diego State University with a degree in accounting. San Diego State is consistently ranked as one of the top 2 Best Accounting Programs in the world. Graduating #7 in my class gave me the option to work almost anywhere I wanted.
- After graduation, I chose to work for the US Navy where I started at the lowest level. In 8 years I became the youngest senior executive in the organization’s history, beating my mentor’s record by 2 months.
- I worked for the same organization until I retired in 2010. I retired because I had reached the highest levels of the government’s pay structure, turning down a SES, which is a civilian equivalent to a General-level position at age 40. Little did I know, 9 months after retiring, I would start experiencing the first signs of cancer.
- Once we found out I had Multiple Myeloma, I was given less than 9 months to live with aggressive treatment; less without it. (This was a surreal conversation.)
- I experienced some very dark days of cancer (depression) and was close to ending my own life thinking I would be less of a burden to my family. But God sent me an angel–through a dear friend–and reminded me that I meant too much to too many people. Since then, I have never been that selfish.
- Cancer almost killed me in the ICU in December 2011, but I bounced back after two stem cell transplants over the next year. I was back on my feet in 2014. (God moment)
- The relapse in December 2017 was a kick in the gut. Myeloma came back and we didn’t see it coming.
- In July 2018, I had a five-hour procedure– open back surgery where my surgeon gifted me with 7 screws, 2 rods, and a shaved spine, but he still couldn’t remove all of the cancer. My oncology team at VCU advised me that my only hope was to relocate to Atlanta to be under the care of Emory Medical.
- In January 2019, we uprooted our family, relocated, and endured another stem cell transplant. I am calling 2019 the year of depression. I struggled again with who was the “New Me.” I was struggling internally with why I couldn’t just retire and not do anything…”haven’t I done enough?” The answer has always been “NO” to that question because my life’s purpose is to inspire people which only happens if I share my journey.
DAIMON’S OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS
I was officially diagnosed and given 9 months to live in July 2011, when my symptoms were finally identified as being caused by Multiple Myeloma. I say officially because it took specialist after specialist five months to figure out what was wrong with me. Initially, I was told that I took too much Motrin and had arthritis and kidney failure. Important to note, that before moving from Virginia, at my final farewell appointment–my family (general practice) doctor acknowledged that three patients of his, subsequent to my 2011 diagnosis, were quickly diagnosed. He attributed to catching the same elusive symptoms and correctly diagnosing his patients that came after me.
In February 2018 my relapse was announced after a considerable amount of blood work. Somehow my cancer had taken on unique characteristics that do not show up on typical Myeloma tests. The cancer had started growing in my tissue that could only be detected in pet scans and biopsies (biopsies are a lot of fun).
DAIMON’S FIGHT
It hasn’t been just my fight. My family, including our four children who were 18, 5, 3, and 18 months at that time, was also so shaken by the news in 2011. However, after a successful 30-month battle with Multiple Myeloma that included several rounds of chemo and two bone marrow transplants, Christmas Days spent in ICU, and many long nights in prayer, I successfully enjoyed four additional years of family life with the Myeloma under control.
In February 2018, the family was told that the rare blood cancer had returned with a vengeance in the form of a Single Plasmacytoma tumor that was eating away on my L1 vertebrae and spinal column. To fight the cancer’s return, I had to endure nine weeks of radiation therapy, a five-hour long open-back surgery to remove a cancerous mass from my spinal column, and began chemotherapy sessions twice a week with no end date in sight. Additionally, our family was advised for any chance of survival, I should get under treatment at Emory Medical Center. Emory is known to be one of the best in the nation. So within a short time, our family downsized and relocated, mid-school year from Virginia to Georgia to be part of a clinical trial. This past summer, I underwent a successful stem cell transplant and am currently under an aggressive chemo cocktail with severe side effects. My oncology team’s strategy is to prolong and extend my life as much as possible–through chemo as long as my body can take it, until a cure is found.
A few highlights of areas I am most proud of:
- Being the first in my family to graduate college.
- Graduating top 10 from my SDSU accounting program.
- Reaching the highest pay level in the government civil service ranks.
- Retiring at 40 after growing up with humble beginnings.
- Awarded two distinguished civil service medals (highest recognition for civil servants).
- Creating a pipeline of leaders that is still in place today producing senior leaders and entrepreneurs who are able to maximize their dreams. (This is in the number of 1000s of people.)
- Coaching preteens and teenagers for 15 years.
- My ability to step out of the darkness and rebuild my life.
- My family and children.
WORDS OF ADVICE FROM DAIMON
- The biggest weapon against something so debilitating is finding, or even regaining, one’s PURPOSE and PASSION. I have found my purpose and passion in coaching others to greatness. By leveraging my natural leadership skills, I have been able to help others to break through their ceilings.
- A suggestion to those reading this is to find the nearest support group. Learn to lean on others, be willing to share your journey and connect with others who have been through similar journeys. Support groups are so important–not just for the one diagnosed–but their family (caregiver, spouse, and children). They are going through a lot too. It’s easy to want to isolate yourself, but stay humble and vulnerable and be willing to talk to others.
- I encourage you to “Fight, fight, never give up!”
- Be your own advocate. Don’t just solely rely on a doctor’s suggestions. Do your own research, know your disease and be familiar with treatment options out there. Remember doctors, although licensed, are only “PRACTICING” medicine.
- Don’t settle for debilitating side effects too long. There are other options or ways to mitigate the pain. Accept the new you!!! You will become a new person, for better or worse. Let go of who you once were and find the greatness in the new you! With a new mindset, life can be amazing!
DAIMON’S GOALS
I recognize that with this (so far) incurable disease, Multiple Myeloma may sideline me again. My goal is to live each day with purpose. I am focused on earning a passive income to ensure my family has the resources needed before the cancer comes back again. My goal is to build and grow my security business which will help people protect their homes and identity.
I want to inspire people on a daily basis. I post videos on my Facebook Coach Diggs profile page with the intent of helping 5-10 people maximize their potential and achieve 5X their current results. I am consulting people in the community for free as an abundance and productivity coach leveraging the techniques and systems taught to me that allowed me to retire at 40 and to begin building passive income.
My goal for 2020 is to do 10 speaking events this year, using my own climb out of depression, to help people understand they too can walk out of the darkness. I’m open and welcome other ideas as I grow my Georgia network to find other ways my journey can positively impact our community in a positive way.
Feel free to reach out to me on Facebook under “Coach Diggs” #StayingSagerStrong!
#TEAMDAIMON#OurWhy — what is YOUR why?
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