Heather Sellars
A Journey of Faith,
Family, and the Fight Against MDS
By Grace Phillips
Ashland Beacon

It’s part of human nature to make plans. We plan to marry, have children, land our dream job, and grow old with a soulmate. But life doesn’t always follow the script. Sometimes, those plans take a detour, and other times, they come crashing down entirely. For Heather Sellars, early 2024 was one of those times.
It all started with a routine blood draw. In that moment, Heather’s life would change forever. She was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a rare blood cancer that occurs when the bone marrow produces abnormal blood cells.
Heather recalls, “Dr. Goble had been following my blood counts for many years. There were times when the numbers were off, so he checked in regularly, but nothing came of those tests. In 2020, my family doctor ordered a routine CBC, and that’s when they found my white and red blood cells, as well as my platelets, were low.” She continued, “This led to another visit with Dr. Goble, then a specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, and finally, a bone marrow biopsy.”
Though MDS was a possibility, it wasn’t confirmed, and doctors were cautious. They agreed it was still in the early stages and chose to monitor her blood counts closely, rather than start treatment. Over the next few years, while there were fluctuations in her counts, nothing alarming showed up—until January 2024. That’s when her blood counts dropped significantly, prompting further testing and another biopsy. In April, Heather received a definitive diagnosis: MDS.

Despite the serious nature of the diagnosis, Heather didn’t experience typical symptoms like fatigue. “I didn’t feel tired or unwell. They told me MDS is often found incidentally. Maybe you go to the doctor for something else, they order bloodwork, and that’s when they find it. For me, it was a blessing that my doctors had been monitoring my blood for a while, so they caught it early.”
The primary treatment for MDS is a bone marrow transplant. Heather began chemotherapy in April 2024 to prepare for the procedure, which was completed by October. Her donor was a 24-year-old from Germany.
Heather and her husband, Jamey, both lead busy lives. She works as a hospice nurse, and he’s the principal at Oakview Elementary. They have two children: their son Ethan, a student at Cedarville University in Ohio, and their daughter Ella, a senior at Ashland High School when Heather received her diagnosis.
“When I told them about the diagnosis, I said, ‘We’re not going to pout, we’re not going to question, and we’re not going to change anything. I have to change my lifestyle, but we’re not changing yours.’ I told Ella, ‘We’re still going to prom and graduation.’ They both played basketball, so I told them, ‘You’re still going to focus on what you do, and we are going to live our lives.”

However, Heather and Jamey’s lives did change. Due to the strict guidelines for the transplant, they had to relocate to Columbus, where Heather would spend the first 30 days in the hospital after the procedure. Since then, they’ve been living in an Airbnb, which has now stretched to 110 days away from their home. But the end is in sight—Heather is cleared to return to Ashland just as this article goes to print.
One of the pillars of strength during this journey has been Heather’s faith. She and her family attend Wildwood Church of God in Ashland. “We’ve had overwhelming support from our community, our church, and even the kids’ college families and teammates. Everyone has rallied around us,” Heather shared.
Despite the emotional and physical toll, the financial burden has been a major challenge as well. Travel, housing, and food expenses have added up. To help, Kari Cullup, a youth worker at their church, suggested a t-shirt sale to raise funds. Heather explains, “I had to learn to be humble and not block someone else’s blessing. It was difficult at first because I didn’t want to make it about me. But then I realized that if my story could give someone hope, it was worth sharing.”
The t-shirt sale was a success, and soon after, others asked to donate directly. Kari set up a GoFundMe page, and the support continued to pour in. This fall, Ella joined her brother Ethan at Cedarville University, where she’s playing basketball. Her coach decided to purchase shirts for the entire team, and recently, Cedarville’s basketball teams held a “Sellars Day,” donating all the proceeds to Heather’s fund.
Today, Heather’s bone marrow is 100% from her donor. She’ll need to receive all childhood vaccinations again as part of her recovery. Her doctors are optimistic about her prognosis, thanks to early detection and her age. While she’s cleared to return to Ashland, she’ll need to make regular trips to Columbus for bloodwork and monitoring throughout the next year. She will also have to wear an N95 mask in public and may take a low-dose chemotherapy pill.
Reflecting on the past year, Heather’s greatest desire is simple: to feel normal again. “When I’m finally released, I think the first thing I want to do is sit in a restaurant with good friends without my mask on—or maybe sit in the front row at church without being isolated,” she said with a smile.
As she approaches the one-year mark of her diagnosis, Heather’s attitude is one of profound gratitude. “We’ve received so many messages— ‘We’re praying for you.’ That’s been the biggest blessing. The number of people who’ve prayed for us is incredible.” Laughing, she added, “God is probably tired of hearing about Heather Sellars. He’s probably saying, ‘I hear you; I’m taking care of her.’ Through it all, from start to finish, I just feel like God has been in the middle of it… orchestrating everything. There’s no other explanation.”
If you’d like to support Heather in her fight against MDS, visit GoFundMe and search for “Help Heather Sellars Battle Blood Cancer.”
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