Donald Stewart – Twenty-five years of grace

Donald Stewart shares his 25-year journey of living with multiple myeloma, giving all glory to God.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Donald Stewart (60) lives in Bedfordview, Gauteng with his wife, Madeleen. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandsons.

Diagnosis

Donald was diagnosed with Stage 4 multiple myeloma, in July 2000, at the age of 35. This came after a visit to a GP due to an ongoing post-nasal drip and a cough. “I would get an antibiotic and within a few days I would be better. This went on for about four years. During this time, I fractured ribs when picking up my sons or lifting a trailer. I drank more milk as I thought I had a calcium defect,” Donald explains. 

Donald’s GP was away so he consulted with a locum, who sent him for an X-ray and referred him to an ENT. The ENT referred him to a physician. 

“I could only get an appointment in two weeks’ time, so I left the X-ray on the back seat of my car. During a work trip, one of my colleagues asked if he could look at them. That night, his wife, who was studying to be an oncologist, phoned me and said she had made an appointment for me with an oncologist/physician the next day.”

The oncologist explained that Donald had multiple myeloma, a cancer that develops from abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow, which causes weakened bones, explaining why he was prone to fractured ribs; this was also seen on the X-ray. “Apparently, I had tiny holes in my facial bones,” Donald explains. 

“The oncologist explained if I had treatment, I had three years to live and if I had no treatment, three months to live. I was to go home and think about everything.”

Turning to God

Naturally, Donald and Madeleen were crushed, they had two young sons and now their family was threatened. Donald phoned his only Christian friend and shared the news with him. He then invited them to church and Donald went up for prayer. This is where the Stewart family’s walk with Christ started. 

“Before this we would be at church twice a month; we much preferred having dinner parties every week…That day when we went up for prayer, Madeleen said she felt a tingling in her body. From that day, we have seen God’s hand in everything,” Donald says.

The first of many treatments

Donald chose to have treatment. He had a bone marrow test and then immediately started high-dose chemotherapy and bortezomib and then had an autologous stem cell transplant. Unfortunately, Donald picked up an infection when his stem cells were infused. 

“I was put on morphine; I feared it and heard so many voices; it felt like I was sinking in the bed. I pleaded with God to allow me to see my sons through matric,” Donald says. Madeleen adds that this was the first of many times that she thought he wasn’t going to make it.

But he did and six weeks’ later, Donald had his second stem cell transplant. For seven years, he was in remission, going for regular check-ups. 

First relapse

In 2008, the cancer count started to rise, resulting in a relapse which is common for people living with multiple myeloma. 

“My sons were now teenagers and the reality of my health was a big stress on them. I told Madeleen I don’t want to go through this again. All I could do was push in closer to God and that’s what I did,” he says.  

Donald was put on thalidomide, an oral tablet, along with cortisone, which made him gain weight, and other medication. Within eight months, the cancer count was non-existent, and Donald was in remission again. 

Second relapse

In 2016, new treatment commenced due to another relapse. By now, Donald had become accustomed to the ups and downs of the disease though his sons had both finished matric, so at the back of his mind he questioned whether it was time. 

Every time Donald’s multiple myeloma relapsed, he trusted for healing and went up for prayer at various church functions. “Every time, I felt a new strength within me,” he says.

Donald was put on lenalidomide, along with other drugs, including chemotherapy. This continued until Donald’s oncologist referred him to a haematologist, in 2018, as the cancer count was rising again. In short, the haematologist said that he has outlived the disease and should be dead. There’s nothing more that can be done, he must go and enjoy the time he has instead of being in and out of hospital. 

Thankfully, the oncologist was still looking for solutions and referred Donald to another haematologist. “Her attitude was much more positive; we learnt that she too was a Christian. She put me on a cocktail of five different drugs.”

A few days later Donald landed up in hospital. The dosage had to be lowered but the cancer count was dropping dramatically. 

Six months later, things were okay. Treatment continued with the addition of thalidomide and bortezomib. “Up until 2021, the regimen was adjusted to counter side effects. I was so tired and lying down most of the day,” he says.   

Medical boarding

By this time, problems with Donald’s medical aid started arising as they refused to pay for many of the treatments. Then in October 2021, Donald was put on medical boarding but was thankful to God for the provision that was set up years before he was diagnosed when he took disability cover. 

He says, “To get a routine when I stopped working, I started walking every morning but then I was flat for the rest of the day.”

Treatment continued though Donald battled with side effects and at times was miserable. “I would get dressed for church and by the time we had to go, I was exhausted and couldn’t.”

Immunotherapy

In 2024, due to Donald not handling the side effects, it was decided to try a new immunotherapy drug, daratumumab. This was denied by his medical aid, but thankfully someone gifted him a three-month supply. The cancer count went down and the side effects were much more manageable.

In June that year, Donald started bleeding profusely and was rushed to hospital. He was given a blood transfusion and it was discovered that Donald had COVID which decreased his platelets causingthe bleeding. 

Current treatment

In the beginning of 2025, Donald and Madeleen changed medical aids. Thankfully, this didn’t affect  treatment. Once again, the side effects became too much with Donald admitting he wasn’t pleasant to be around, which was hard for his family. 

In February, his treatment changed to an oral tablet, pomalidomide, along with other medication.

This March, Donald picked up an infection and landed up in hospital. The doctors couldn’t find what was causing the infection, so a bone marrow biopsy was done. “This was most probably my 20^th one and the most painful!”

It was surmised that the drug was too strong. He was discharged, and a new regimen of chemotherapy started two weeks later. “I’m managing it so well and my counts have come down nicely,” Donald says happily.

The side effects Donald has is fatigue, difficulty in concentration, neuropathy, heartburn, and a bloated stomach. “Surprisingly, my kidneys and liver are in good condition even after all the treatment.”   

King of parkrun

In 2016, Donald started doing parkrun. Since then he has 349 parkruns to his name. “Each week I would try better my time, so I had a goal every week,” Donald explains. 

Madeleen commends her husband for this as it shows his discipline and attitude of his current state; he still has much to offer and achieve. 

Drawing closer to God

Donald adds, “Cancer is not the nicest thing that happened to me, but it was the best thing that could have happened. Because it was then that I had to draw closer to God and solely rely on Him. With every relapse, infection, and hospital stay, He was there guiding me with scriptures on bumper stickers and Instagram posts; His encouragement is everywhere.” 

Madeleen compares the journey to a roller coaster ride. “There are so many ups and down, but every day you wake up and there is still hope. I changed my mindset from this is cancer and a death sentence to it’s a chronic disease that needs to be managed,” she says.   

In the 25 years, Donald has been told five times that there is nothing more that can be done for him. “There have been so many times that I thought I was going to die, with the last being just the other day. But hope for me is Christ and resilience is the gift that Christ gives. But you must take it and work it. I do have my pity parties but a few days later, I’m renewed with strength.”  

Donald’s sons have surpassed matric and are well into adulthood with wives and children. He doesn’t know what the future holds, but he knows that his extended time is due to the hands of God and the doctors who have been treating him.