November is National Family Caregivers Month. When Chris’ husband, Mike, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2015, the couple began a life-changing journey together. Chris stepped into the role of caregiver with resilience and determination. Here, she shares what she learned about supporting a loved one through cancer and how the experience reshaped their lives.
My husband and I began our transplant journey in 2015 when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at Gwinnett Medical Center (now Northside Hospital Gwinnett). Since treatment would require a specialized treatment facility, Mike’s oncologist, Dr. Kevin Peacock of Suburban Hematology-Oncology Associates, recommended Northside Hospital. That’s when we met Dr. Asad Bashey of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Group of Georgia (BMTGA) and Northside’s Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit team.
Mike was diagnosed early, was otherwise healthy, and had a perfect 10-for-10 stem cell match from his sister. After recovering, he returned to work. But 18 months later, he relapsed. On Feb. 24, 2017, he received a second transplant — a half match from our nephew, his first donor’s son.
We were told it would be a three-day hospital stay. Instead, Mike spent 58 days in the hospital and more than a year recovering. I retired to become his full-time caregiver. By 2018, Mike returned to work but faced graft-versus-host disease and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), so he retired. It took months of therapy and adjustment to our new normal. Today, Mike has been in remission for 8½ years.
As a caregiver, I learned something new every day — starting with the manual Northside gave us in 2015. The staff cared for Mike and taught me how to care for him. Over time, I discovered strength I didn’t know I had. I learned to:
- Live in the moment.
- Listen to doctors and follow instructions exactly.
- Listen to the patient.
- Be patient and trust the process.
At home, I learned to ask for and accept help, keep Mike involved — he managed his meds — and take care of myself. That was hard but necessary.
Now we’re in a wonderful phase of life. Mike loves restoring old Dodge trucks and is working on a 1965 Dodge A100 pickup. We’ve traveled to car shows and checked Hawaii off our bucket list. Our greatest blessing came in 2021 with the birth of our first grandchild. She’s four now and joined us for her first Light the Night Walk for Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society).
It truly takes a village — Northside’s inpatient transplant unit, BMTGA, and two groups we still support: Blood Cancer United and Atlanta Blood Services. Blood Cancer United gave us information, guidance and hope. Since 2017, they’ve helped advance more than 70% of FDA-approved blood cancer treatments. In 2016, Mike created Team Bilello for Light the Night. Last Saturday marked our 10th walk, and we’ve raised more than $134,000 thanks to family and friends.
During treatment, I saw bags of platelets saving Mike’s life. That’s when I learned platelets last only five days after donation. We rallied friends to donate while Mike was hospitalized. I still donate every two to three weeks and recently made my 118th donation. Please consider donating — Atlanta Blood Services needs us all.
Transplants are a miracle. Mike spent more than 120 days inpatient at Northside and hundreds more at BMTGA. Through it all, Dr. Peacock was right: Northside was the place to go.
Learn more about the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Northside.
Pictured, from left: Mike Bilello, Dr. Asad Bashey of BMTGA and Northside’s Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit team, and Chris Bilello.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
