Today is my 2-year post-stem cell transplant anniversary. As of today, I am permitted to write my donor revealing my identity and sharing my contact information (before today, I was not allowed to share personally identifying information). In celebration of this occasion, I am sharing the letter that I wrote this past fall that Be The Match, the stem cell/bone marrow registry, provided to the donor.
“Dearest Donor,
The words ‘Thank you’ do not seem to fully represent what you have done for me and my family, but they are the first words that come to mind. You are my perfect match and in February 2019, I received your stem cells! I am grateful every day that you were placed on this Earth, by God (Universe, higher power, whatever you believe in) to save my life. Although I cannot share too many details about myself and my family right now because of privacy regulations, I do want to share my health diagnosis with you. It was three years ago when everything changed for myself, my husband, and our two children as I was given a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. After standard chemotherapy treatment, a relapse occurred, and the best chance of survival, would be through a transplant – this is how the blessing of your selfless act came into our lives.
Through this challenge my family and friends have been able to see, not only what a positive attitude and determination can do, but also how a stranger can impact so many lives in such a wonderful way. We have always tried to teach our children that one person can make a difference in the World, and through this stem cell transplant, they have seen what YOU have done.
Since the transplant, I have been working to help raise awareness of the registry so that more people have the opportunity to have their lives extended or saved.
Your selfless act is incredibly humbling to myself and my family. Thank you for taking the time out of your regular life, and for going through the discomfort of the donation process. Thanks to you, and God, I have a new immune system and can live to see my children achieve their goals, to continue to raise awareness of the registry in hopes of saving lives, and to grow old with my husband.
I look forward to writing you in a few months and being able to reveal my identity and share my contact information should you ever decide that you wanted to reach out.”
Be A Lifesaver: join.bethematch.org/jennifersmission
Preparing to go home after a Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant – Part 1
Preparing to go home after a Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant – Part 2
Jennifer says
Oh, what a blessing Becky! Thank you for sharing this with me. How are you doing?
Becky Peabody says
I had stem cells from a stranger as well. He signed up in college, ten years later I needed his cells. Its been 16 months and I’m still cancer free! What a blessing he was to me.