Dallas Couple Finds Support, Healing at Myeloma Institute

By Yavonda Chase

After one day of testing, Orr developed a fever and was admitted into UAMS Medical Center, where she remained for 65 days. During that time, the Orrs decided to pursue treatment at UAMS’ Myeloma Institute with Yogesh Jethava, M.D., a clinical hematologist with expertise in stem cell transplantation.

Rodney Orr, Ph.D., an associate professor and department chairman at Dallas Theological Seminary, suddenly found himself thrust into the role of caregiver in a city more than 300 miles away from home.

“Being a caretaker is about marshaling spiritual support for the morale of the patient, but it is also about caring for each other,” he said. “Myeloma has caused us to recommit ourselves to a deeper relationship in our marriage. We have found a degree of peace in knowing that this disease is drawing us closer to God and to each other for strength and encouragement. ”

Orr wanted to remain in Little Rock to care for his wife, but he also needed to teach his classes and lead his department in Dallas.

Enter Janice Hart, director of library operations at UAMS. She suggested that Orr could use Skype to teach his classes and volunteered a room in the library for that purpose. Hart and Heather Smith, the director of the Academic Affairs Student Success Center, worked with Orr and the Dallas Theological Seminary to keep the professor in the classroom – at least virtually.

“The UAMS library enabled me to be a caretaker for my wife,” Orr said, adding that his students compared the Skype set up, which featured his image on a screen, to the Wizard of Oz.

Orr was also apprehensive about how he would remain strong, mentally and physically, to care for his wife. The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Auxiliary and Volunteer Services helped in this regard, giving him free passes to the UAMS Fitness Center.

“Every caretaker’s greatest concern is that they might not be able to care for their patient because of their own health issues,” Orr said.  “Working out twice a week at the UAMS gym helped me keep my stress levels down so I could be a greater help to Cortina.”

After spending less than a year at the Myeloma Institute, the couple is back home in Dallas and Cortina Orr is in remission.

Rodney Orr found that his time at UAMS gave him a greater appreciation for Arkansans.

“Being in Arkansas taught us to appreciate the loyal Razorback fans who stick with their team no matter what the outcome,” he said. “This same attitude is important for the caretaker to be a cheerleader for the patient and to show them that they are not alone.”