Sheriff's deputy Michael Seeley, pictured at right. Seeley recently received a bone marrow transplant in Cleveland and is currently recovering. P-J file photo

A Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputy who has been receiving treatment for acute myeloid leukemia is out of the hospital, but is still counting down the days until he can return home.

Michael Seeley is recovering from a bone marrow transplant he received at the Cleveland Clinic in November, said his wife, Nicole. He was released on Dec. 4 following the operation.

“He is still suffering from fatigue, nausea and a variety of other effects that we’ve been told is to be expected,” Nicole Seeley said. “His condition is stable.”

Nicole Seeley said they will have to remain in Cleveland for 100 days post-transplant due to doctor’s orders. Seeley has a few appointments at the Cleveland Clinic per week for treatments and to discuss his progress with the doctor, she said.

“We will not know if the transplant has worked as hoped until around day 90,” Nicole Seeley said.

Seeley received the potentially life-saving bone marrow from his sister, Jennifer Scolton, who found out she was a match in September.

Though out of the hospital, Nicole Seeley said she and her husband are both missing their home, family and friends. In the meantime, the couple have rented an apartment in Cleveland Heights for the rest of his treatment.

“We are struggling to adjust to our new surroundings together, alone in a new city,” she said.

Walid Al-jabiri, a paramedic with ALSTAR EMS, said the Seeleys are using the “Fight For Seeley” Facebook page to keep everyone updated on Michael Seeley’s progress. He said everyone is hopeful that the next “Fight For Seeley” event will be called, “Celebrate Mike’s Victory Against Leukemia.”

“Once we find more answers in the upcoming month, we will share with the community,” said Al-jabiri, a longtime friend of the family. “The community enabled “Fight For Seeley” to be a tremendous gathering of courage and support, and we owe them a great deal of respect and gratitude.”

The Seeleys said they would also like to thank the Bemus Point Fire Department for a breakfast fundraiser recently held; the money raised was donated to the Seeleys. Al-jabiri said it was an “overwhelming moment” when he saw the members of the fire department dressed in “Fight For Seeley” t-shirts. He said it was an “amazing show of support.”

Nicole Seeley said her husband insists that she goes home for the holidays to be with her parents and other family, while his parents will travel to Cleveland to spend Christmas with him. She had intended to spend the holidays with her husband in Ohio, but he insisted she go home.

“It was not an easy decision,” she said. “We are trying to salvage as much normalcy as possible.”

Sashene Bargar, corrections officer with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, was in charge of organizing an effort to finish construction work on the Seeleys’ unfinished home in West Ellicott. Bargar said more than 40 friends, family and volunteers worked on the house while Michael Seeley was undergoing treatment.

Only three projects remain to be finished on the house, which include the molding on the inside, window trim on the outside and the outside railing. She said after those projects are completed, the house can go through final inspection.

The Seeleys purchased the property two years ago and had previously done renovations, but the project came to a halt after Michael Seeley’s diagnosis. The Seeleys have been living with Michael’s parents as work on their house progressed. Bargar put out a request on Facebook for help with completing the house after she was made aware that the Seeleys’ home was not ready.

The Seeleys are currently living in Cleveland Heights in Ohio. Anyone wishing to send them a letter for the holidays can do so at 3042 Kensington Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118.