By Jennifer Verstandig

Only when I look into the eyes of my first child will I again come close to the feeling that I experienced on the evening of June 12, 2003. I had waited just over a year. Six years, really, to meet this man. He was my Godsend. He was my beacon. Alone, he turned into my only answer. His name is Moishe. He is a hero.

I tried chemo several times. I tried radiation along with that. I prayed, of course. The whole community prayed. We talked about non-traditional treatments. We researched the medical trials. We traveled the country for the cure. The cure came in the form of a father, a husband, a man. He tested his blood eight years ago in Canada at a drive for a little boy, and eight years later, he saved the life of a thirty year old woman. Thank goodness for Moishe. Thank goodness for the Gift of Life Foundation.

A friend found the Gift of Life almost by accident. I needed a miracle, and he was on the hunt. Those working at the Gift of Life got involved in my fight immediately. Throughout the state of Florida, and in various other states, we started running drives and testing volunteers. No one was turned away. I delight in knowing that somewhere along the way, we most likely tested those that may save the lives of so many in the future. The Gift of Life continues to weave its magic.

In March of 2003, my donor was found. At the end of May, Moishe laid in a bed in New York as I received his cells in Gainesville, Florida. At that very moment, we were connected forever. He became as huge a part of my life just as my sisters and my parents were. For better or worse, we were family and the counting of the days began to the day when I would meet my donor. I thought of him so often and loved receiving his cards and letters.

Suddenly, there I was in a purple dress, that I had so carefully chosen, in the middle of New York. The day had come. The moment was there. We were going to be face to face. But what do you say? How do you express the feeling of thanks that is so embedded in your soul? It turns out, that words are of no importance. I looked at Moishe, and he looked at me, and we both knew that the crossing of our paths were not ironic, just fate. We were meant to have the opportunity to be friends. We will share so many special events in our lives together as we watch our families grow. There is so much that we agree on, but most of all, the brilliance of an organization named the Gift of Life. This is a organization based on the belief that there are such things as miracles and second chances.

I will be at the gala next year in June, and so many gala's to follow. I will support The Gift of Life with the same fervor in which it supported me. I thank those at the Gift of Life for their commitment, work and championing for the ill. Your work means everything to so many.