Jimmy, blood stem cell donor
Supporting a friend’s fight against blood cancer was Jimmy’s main goal when he decided to become a blood stem cell donor. Jimmy signed up to be a blood stem cell donor while attending university in England in hopes that it would encourage others to join the registry. Unfortunately, his friend passed away before finding a match, which made Jimmy even more determined to become a lifesaver.
Six years later, Jimmy got the call: He was a match for a young girl with aplastic anemia was a match for a young girl with aplastic anemia.
Olivia, blood stem cell recipient
Olivia was a vibrant 3-year-old, one who loved cooking, dancing and using her big sister’s makeup, when she was diagnosed—and it soon became clear she would need a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately, she had several potential matches on the registry, including Jimmy.
Doctors initially decided to go with a different donor. When that person was unable to move forward for medical reasons, though, Jimmy was asked to step up. He was preparing for donation when doctors decided to delay the transplant because things were looking up for Olivia: Her blood counts were beginning to rise.
A year later, though, doctors determined that a blood stem cell transplant would be her best option for a cure. In June 2020, Jimmy donated, honoring the legacy of his dear friend and changing Olivia’s life. More than two years later, she’s off all medication and is back to doing the things she loves.
Jimmy with his blood stem cell recipient, Olivia and her family
You can make an impact in a patient’s life. Join the Be The Match Registry® today and start your journey to becoming a lifesaver.
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