Rosalie Rifkin, Active Grandmother from Tarzana, California | Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AAMDSIF) Return to top.

Rosalie Rifkin, Active Grandmother from Tarzana, California

I was diagnosed with MDS in about 2003 at age 63.  I am now 72 years old and will be married 52 years in June.  I have not taken medication for the last three years.  I go to a wonderful doctor at UCLA who is doing research on MDS.  I feel fine and I am not excessively tired.  My hemoglobin is only 7.2, but my doctor says that if I feel alright, I don't need to take any medication.

I get up early every morning and walk three to five miles.  I play tennis, go clogging and hike.  I also go to a gym several times a week and lift weights and take water exercise.  In the summer, I swim 100 laps in my pool most days.  I think my body has gotten used to my low hemoglobin count, and since I am a very positive person, everything is going great.  

I'd be happy to talk to anyone who has the disease, or their family.  I believe in living one day at a time and don't consider myself ill.

Update 2014: I am now 75 years old and married 54 years. I have been taking Procrit twice a week. I still go to a wonderful doctor at UCLA who is doing research on MDS. My hemoglobin is slightly higher with Procrit - about 8.0. I still get up early every morning and walk seven to nine miles now. I still play tennis, clogg, square dance and go to the gym and do water exercise and Zumba. I have moved from my four-bedroom home to a two-bedroom apartment. I swim in the pool and go in the Jacuzzi. The rest of the story is the same, I have lots of energy and don’t feel I am ill. Living one day at a time and enjoying life!