WEBSTER, N.Y. — Chris Costello was only 8 years old when he learned he had leukemia in 1997.

What You Need To Know

  • Chris Costello was eight years old when he was diagnosed with leukemia
  • He found a match through the DKMS registry
  • That match has been a friend ever since

“One day I just came home and I had like a bunch of bruises, like on my legs and like for four weeks they weren't going away,” said Costello.

He began chemotherapy, but in order to prevent future relapse, doctors told him he would need a bone marrow transplant, also known as a blood stem cell transplant.

“That's when the community came together,” he said. “They held a bunch of drives, to try to find me a bone marrow donor.” 

No one in his family was a match, but miles away in Portland, Maine, one mystery man on the DKMS registry, an international registry for bone marrow donors, answered the call.

“The first thought that went through my mind in all honesty was, ‘What if one of my kids needed a bone marrow transplant to stay alive?’” said Ed Suslovic.

After the procedure, the parties had to wait a year if they wanted to meet each other. When the moment finally came to meet, Suslovic made the seven and a half hour drive to Webster, New York.

“I mean, we've been inseparable,” said Costello. “[We’ve] always seen each other at least once, twice every year since.” 

In fact, Suslovic was Costello’s officiant and co-best man at his wedding.

“I don't know that there are words to describe that feeling,” said Suslovic. “I don't think there was a dry eye in the house when Chris and I walked down the aisle.”

Recently their story came full circle when Suslovic was diagnosed with leukemia himself, and found support from Costello.

“I was now calling Chris for advice and coaching,” said Sulovic. “And he helped walk me through the whole thing.” 

Suslovic learned he was in remission the day of Costello’s wedding.

Now their families encourage people to join the DKMS registry through their nonprofit called Christopher’s Challenge, so more patients’ stories can have a happy ending.

The nonprofit is hosting a pub crawl on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Fairport Village Inn. Registration starts at 11:00 a.m. and the event starts at noon.