WOODSTOCK Kevin and Kathy Black are grateful for many things this Thanksgiving. Like many families throughout the Valley, theyll gather for fellowship and a meal that might taste a little sweeter after the challenges of the last few years.

Nearly one year ago, Kevin a judge in the 26th Circuit Court who presides in Shenandoah, Warren, Frederick, Clarke, Page, and Rockingham counties and the City of Winchester received a stem cell transplant for treatment of leukemia.

The Woodstock couple, married for 42 years, said they are thankful for family and community support and advances in medicine, adding that they believe Kevins physical fitness and positive attitude were vital in seeing them through the ordeal.

After an unusual fainting spell in the summer of 2020, Kevin, who is notoriously physician-averse, went to get checked out.

Im a guy who never wants to go to the doctor, never wants to have anything done to me. At that time, nobody would see you, Kevin recalled, referencing the practice of telehealth that was common at that stage of the COVID pandemic.

An initial bone marrow biopsy confirmed that Kevin had Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow that typically progresses more slowly than other types of leukemia.

Kathy, who has served as the Shenandoah County Commissioner of the Revenue for 24 years, recalled doctors telling them, But dont worry, thats the best leukemia to have.

Kathy took a deep dive into understanding what was happening with her husband.

I didnt want to know any of that, said Kevin, aJuvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge for four years before his current appointment and a Woodstock lawyer for 31 years before that.

She started asking questions about a different type of blood cancer.

In August, Kathy was talking about multiple myeloma and the doc had me have a PET scan and she pretty much said, Nope, youre good. You just have CLL. But then she had me go do another bone marrow biopsy in April and then the phone call was the one you dont ever want to hear, Kevin said, adding that he was referred to a multiple myeloma specialist. Of course, I knew that was bad.

Along with CLL, Kevin was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells build up in bone marrow.

From the first bone marrow biopsy to the second, it had exploded. It was moving really fast. Its just lucky that we caught it so early. Its probably an act of God that he got sick originally, Kathy said.

Added Kevin, Oh yeah. I'd never have gone to the doctor. I dont know what would have convinced me. Its really weird when you think how much Ive avoided doctors and healthcare and all that its just fortuitous that the events played the way they did. A lot of people find out they have multiple myeloma theyll be walking along and a leg will break. They say your bones turn into like Swiss cheese.

An avid fitness enthusiast, Kevin lifts weights a couple of times a week and runs about 30 miles each week. He said that he had been feeling great despite his diagnosis.

The day I took my first chemo pill, the night before I had just run up the mountain. When I go by myself I go really hard, he said, adding that he told Kathy that he felt like a million bucks." I said, I cannot believe I have cancer and I cannot believe that Im going to start taking this poison and God knows whats going to happen to me.' It was weird because I felt that good.

After seeking opinions from several oncologists and cancer specialists, Kevin reluctantly came to terms with the fact that hed had to go through a stem cell transplant.

They kill your bone marrow with chemo. I didnt like the sound of that. Before they do all that, they harvest your stem cells, Kevin said. Understand, the idea of somebody sticking me with a needle for my whole life was the most repulsive thing. Ive been stuck by hundreds of needles in the last two years, but anything that sounded like that was just something that I didnt want to do.

Kevin stayed as active as possible before the procedure, continuing his runs up a steep mountainside until his stem cells were harvested in late September 2022. After a couple of mishaps a dog bite and a battle with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) the transplant finally happened Dec. 1, Kathy said.

A former ultrarunner, Kevin said the transplant was difficult on many levels from the procedure itself which left him humbled at the weakness in his body to the forced 100-day isolation required to protect his rebuilding immune system but grateful for advances in medicine.

Think about what theyve done. Its kind of amazing to think that 20 years ago they didn't have that. The doc told me in Winchester, except for the chemo theyve discovered in the last 20 years, which is way better than what they had, and the stem cell thing, I probably wouldnt be here now, Kevin said.

In the challenges of the process, the couple said they were well supported by their community.

Im grateful for all the support, mostly from Kathy, but also from everybody around me. That would be the number one thing I learned from all of this you really need to have someone there who is capable of processing and advocating for you, Kevin said, adding that the couples three sons and their wives were especially supportive.

Kevin added, My colleagues, they filled in the gaps for what I couldnt do and just all the people who prayed. You realize you need that support. I dont know if you take it for granted, but you just dont realize the support you have around you until you get in that situation.

The Blacks, who connected with another local couple who were going through the stem cell transplant process, said they are happy to talk with others about their experiences.

It was nice to have this other couple that we could talk to and I could talk to his wife about her job as the caregiver. It helped us so we would hope that if either of us could help someone, wed be happy to, Kathy said, adding that her staff stepped up to cover for her and keep things running smoothly at the county office and friends were there to lend an ear or a shoulder or provide a meal.

Set to retire from her post at the end of the year, Kathy added, Im thankful that Kevin is such a strong person because I don't know how to live without him. Our kids were very helpful. Even right now. Our second son is coming home from Asheville for the week. He was supposed to come yesterday, but hed had the flu and they wanted to make sure that his wife didnt have it before they came. The thoughtfulness and caring that everyone has shown were blessed to live in a community like this where people are more than willing to help you.

Kevin said that he was especially grateful for his longtime friend, Roy Marshall, who emphasized the importance of staying positive.

We had some talks and thats where I got his wisdom about how so many people were so gloomy [during cancer treatment]. I made my mind up that I didnt want to be that person, Kevin said, adding that Roy helped introduce him to ultrarunning, a sport he enjoyed for several years in his 40s.

Noting that hed always been interested in staying healthy, Kevin said that he met Roy when he returned to the area after law school.

My whole lifestyle all along lent itself to somebody who could weather all this stuff, he said. Theres no cure. Someday, most likely, thisll come back and Ill have battle two. Hopefully, going out and running and staying in shape will help me go through the next battle. The sermon I would preach to people is you need to get yourself in as good a shape as you can because when round two comes, you want to have something to fight it with.

That being said, Kevin added, Im not doing what Im doing to get ready for round two. Thats a collateral benefit. Im just trying to live my life.

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Judge credits family, community, fitness and prayer with his rebound ... - The Winchester Star