Sherilyn Posey, a Hokes Bluff, Alabama, mother of two, always had energy to spare. But in late 2021, she was so worn out she wondered if she could get through even a lazy day.
A physical a few months later offered the first clue: a low neutrophil count. Neutrophils are white blood cells that help fight infection. Doctors suspected a virus, but her symptoms still had no clear explanation.
"The official conclusion seemed to be that my body was being dramatic, but no one knew why," she said.
When her counts did not recover, Sherilyn was referred to a hematologist, who said myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, was suspected. MDS is a group of blood cancers in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells.
Sherilyn drove home with tears in her eyes.
"I could barely pronounce myelodysplastic syndrome, much less process the words 'rare blood cancer,'" she said.
Asking for a second opinion
A bone marrow biopsy in May 2022 confirmed low-risk MDS, which can sometimes progress to acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, a faster-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Sherilyn’s Alabama doctors recommended monitoring her closely rather than starting treatment right away, but she wanted another opinion.
Since she has family in the Canton area, she met with Dr. Lynn Zemsky at Georgia Cancer Specialists in Canton. Sherilyn was then referred to Dr. Asad Bashey, clinical research medical director for Northside Hospital's Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program and a physician at The Blood and Marrow Transplant Group of Georgia (BMTGA).
At her first visit in August 2022, Dr. Bashey recommended moving forward with a stem cell transplant while Sherilyn was still otherwise healthy.
"For patients with MDS, a stem cell transplant offers the only chance for a cure,” Dr. Bashey said. “When a patient with high or medium risk MDS is otherwise healthy and has the support needed, we want to talk about transplant and look for a donor before the disease progresses to more advanced stages like acute leukemia, because the disease is easier to cure with transplantation at this stage while patient is stronger."
The search for a suitable donor began.
Finding a donor
Her brother and children were not full matches, and none of the four full matches found through the National Marrow Donor Program registry could donate.
With no full match available, her closest match was her 18-year-old son, Matthew. Half-matched donors (or haploidentical allogeneic transplants) are now an option thanks to chemotherapy given after transplant to help the body accept donor cells. Northside’s BMT program helped to pioneer this type of life saving transplant.
"He was willing to step in and save my life, which is a pretty big ask for someone still figuring out college schedules," she said.
Then came another hurdle. Transplant meant living in metro Atlanta for months while her two children stayed home in Alabama for school, and the cost felt overwhelming. With financial and housing assistance from the Northside Hospital Foundation, she moved forward.
The transplant was set for April 14, 2023, so Matthew could donate his stem cells during spring break.
An unwanted progression
Sherilyn completed her pre-transplant evaluation on March 10, 2023. Five days later, Dr. Bashey called with news that her MDS had progressed to AML. The transplant would have to wait until chemotherapy could bring the AML into remission.
Sherilyn was admitted to Northside Hospital Atlanta on March 17 to begin 20 doses of chemotherapy over seven days to kill the cancer cells so she could move on to transplant. The treatment was hard. She fainted several times and returned to the hospital after a short stay at home.
After more chemotherapy and additional testing, Sherilyn finally reached remission. She was ready for the next step.
Transplant and recovery
Sherilyn received her son's stem cells on May 5, 2023, exactly one year after her MDS diagnosis. After five nights, she went home to begin daily clinic visits.
But less than 48 hours later, complications from high-dose chemotherapy and very low blood counts sent her back to the hospital for 15 nights. Melissa Collins, a BMTGA nurse practitioner, became a steady source of motivation.
"Her soft words and encouragement after transplant helped me more than words can express," Sherilyn said.
On day 16, Sherilyn returned to her temporary home in Canton.
"I was weak as a popcorn fart, taking more medicines than I could count," she said. "Still, my counts were recovering, and the medical staff said I was progressing the way I should."
Finally, after months of additional chemotherapy, Sherilyn rang the bell on Dec. 1, 2023.
Learning to live again
When treatment ended, a new challenge began. Until she could receive vaccines, fear of infection made everyday life stressful.
"Being around people who did not understand the restrictions could send me into a panic," she said.
Once she could receive vaccines, the worry began to ease. Her husband, Spence, has also been a source of reassurance.
"He loves and comforts me through test anxiety and reminds me that no matter the results, we will get through it,” she said.
Today, more than three years after the transplant, Sherilyn remains cancer-free. Looking back, she says she wants other patients to know what carried her through.
"We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we get through it," she said. "I never let myself question whether I would make it. I had faith I would get through it and live to share my story."
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANT PROGRAM AT NORTHSIDE.
*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.
