A Place to Rest

As cancer took its toll, rugged, tough, outdoorsy Mike Dilworth would stop along the walk from their car to the Allan Parsons Infusion Center, turn to his wife Sandy and say, “We need someplace to rest.” Today, one of the benches where he used to stop and catch his breath bears his name.

Together, Mike and Sandy Dilworth raised two sons and lived full lives. Sandy has retired from her job as a Vice President for CareFirst and Mike was a master carpenter who owned a construction business. Their lives were upended by Mike’s cancer diagnosis in 2018. After a good experience with GBMC Family Medicine specialist Dr. James Baronas, Mike decided to pursue his cancer treatment at GBMC. They were impressed by the helpfulness they encountered at the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC. Everyone they met kindly took time to make sure Sandy and Mike understood what was going on in Mike’s case.

The oldest son among six children, Mike was used to looking out for others. He was uncomplaining about the hardships of his own cancer experience. Nonetheless, it made him sad to see patients who were younger than himself or who were alone when they came to their appointments. He understood how important it was to have support on the cancer journey. GBMC Medical Oncologist Dr. Mei Tang remembers Sandy was by Mike’s side “every visit and every step in his care.” When Mike would instruct doctors and support staff to give the important information to his wife Sandy, he’d explain, “she’s my everything.”

Though Mike remained in good spirits throughout his treatment, as his illness progressed, the walk from Daffodil Parking Lot to Physicians Pavilion West became more difficult. Always a strong man, he would have to stop and rest on the journey. There was a bench, halfway between the two destinations, where Mike and Sandy would stop until he’d regained his strength. After his passing, Sandy contributed to GBMC, a gift that is memorialized by naming one of those benches in Mike’s memory.

Sandy and Mike were married for 46 years, until Mike’s death from cancer in June 2021. Sandy told Dr. Tang that giving back to GBMC helped her feel that she was doing something for other oncology patients, especially those who were going through treatment alone.

If you’d like to remember a loved one with a gift to GBMC and the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute, please visit www.gbmc.org/give or contact Maureen McNeill or (443) 849-4328.