In this episode, we speak with Daniel Medina of Broomfield, Colorado, about his journey as a caregiver for his wife Miley, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2021 at the young age of 27. What begins as a story of sudden diagnosis during an active summer of volleyball quickly turned into an emotional and logistical rollercoaster for Daniel, Miley, and their then two-year-old daughter.

We walk through the early days of Miley’s diagnosis, including a pivotal urgent care visit that led directly to hospitalization. Daniel shares how a professional connection helped secure Miley’s access to top oncological care at UC Health. Despite initial chemotherapy and some success, a relapse in 2022 led to a bone marrow transplant, which ultimately helped Miley recover and thrive. Today, she’s healthier and more driven than ever—running three coffee shops, parenting energetically, and even making time for beach volleyball.

Throughout the conversation, we dive deep into Daniel’s experience as a male caregiver. He reflects on the challenges of holding together family life, work obligations, and emotional well-being while supporting a critically ill spouse. He shares how difficult it was to ask for help—something that went against his natural instinct for independence—and how family, colleagues, and mindfulness practices helped him cope.

Daniel is candid about the helplessness he felt, the fears of losing his partner, and the emotional weight of trying to appear strong for his daughter. He explains how something as small as being physically present, even if it’s just sitting silently in the hospital room, becomes powerful. We also learn how critical digital communities like the CancerBuddy app were in helping him find hope, practical advice, and emotional connection during a time when Google only offered grim statistics.

We explore how Miley’s recovery affected not only their family dynamics but also their daughter, who—despite her young age—continues to carry emotional echoes of the experience. Daniel highlights the importance of honoring milestones and using them to reflect on growth, healing, and gratitude. He encourages all caregivers to stay grounded, stay present, and reach out for support when needed. His perspective is not only honest and raw, but also deeply human, offering valuable insight into the caregiving journey from a role that’s often underrepresented.

This season is sponsored by Sanofi: https://www.sanofi.com/

And Jazz Pharmaceuticals: https://www.jazzpharma.com/

CancerBuddy: https://bonemarrow.org/support-and-financial-aid/support/about-cancerbuddy

National Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.

nbmtLINK Website: https://www.nbmtlink.org/

nbmtLINK Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/nbmtLINK

Follow the nbmtLINK on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/nbmtlink/

The nbmtLINK YouTube Page can be found by clicking here.

To participate in the GVHD Mosaic, click here: https://amp.livemosaics.com/gvhd

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