A four hour trip for a mother is now less than a 20 minute drive down Wrightsboro Road to the place that is allowing her to live a normal life after her body stopped producing new blood cells. It’s thanks to a new housing option available to bone marrow transplant patients receiving medical care at the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University.

“It just overwhelmed me,” said Shaniqua Mitchell, a bone marrow transplant recipient. “You just don’t think people do anything like that anymore.”

ATC Development, an apartment company located in Augusta, donated an apartment in the Avalon Apartment complex located at 3647 Wrightsboro Road to the Georgia Cancer Center. Mitchell, 37, from Albany, GA, along with her mother and 17-year-old son will be the first family to live in that home. Mitchell received a bone marrow transplant in May after being diagnosed with aplastic anemia two years ago. As part of her care, she must live within a certain distance from the hospital.

“After hearing the stories of patients and their families who are sometimes traveling a couple of hours each way several times per week for treatments because they can’t afford temporary housing in the Augusta area, we thought, there is a way that we can assist with this,” said Shelly Martin, vice president of operations for ATC Development. “We are honored to help out in this small way.”

The family is set to officially move in June 20. The apartment includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms and is fully furnished. They will live in the apartment for three months. It will then be available for the next BMT patient and family who need a place to stay.

“When Mrs. Susan came to tell me she found a corporate partner, I just cried,” said Mitchell. “This whole process, the apartment, the transplant and the care I’ve received by the doctors, nurses and staff at the Georgia Cancer Center has helped restore my faith in people.”