Bone Marrow

While in college, I donated a blood sample to see if I was a possible match to a student who needed a bone marrow transplant. While I was not a match, and thus was not able to help that individual, I was able to help another. In the fall of 2002, I was contacted by the National Marrow Donor Program to see if I was still willing to donate. I agreed and went through several more extensive tests to verify compatibility. Finally, I was notified that my blood was compatible with someone suffering from leukemia. In February 2003, I underwent surgery to extract my bone marrow. At the time, I didn't know it would be flown halfway around the world, or that it would eventually save someone's life. Several months after the donation, I received a phone call from the cancer patient I had helped. She was a woman in her fifties who lived in Australia.

In 2003, she wrote a book chronicling her journey to overcome leukemia.

In May 2004, my family and I had the opportunity to meet Colleena and her husband, Max, while they vacationed in Toronto. It was a heartfelt encounter for all of us.

If you've ever been screened for the National Marrow Donor Program, it is critical to verify your contact information is up to date at their website at www.marrow.org. If my parents had not lived in the same house with the same phone number for 15 years there is a good chance the Registry would not have been able to contact me. On the website, you can also sign up to join the donor registry.