Are you Ancil’s lifesaving match? Order your swab kit and find out if you are his hero! 

Ancil is a 38-year-old husband and father of three children ages 17, 12, 11, who has a fulfilling career as a Pharmacist. Recently, he developed an odd rash over his face, neck, and upper chest, and experienced pain under his ribs on the left – it was his spleen, which was very enlarged.

Ancil received devastating news from his doctors – he was diagnosed with Hepatosplenic T-cell Lymphoma, a type of cancer that is extremely rare, comprising less than 5% of all lymphoma cases worldwide.

He and his family have learned that to defeat this cancer and recover his health, he needs a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) or marrow transplant from a donor who shares his same tissue type. Unfortunately, for 71% of Black blood cancer patients, they do not have a viable match in the worldwide registry. 

That’s where you come in! You could be Ancil’s lifesaving hero without even knowing it. All it takes is a swab of your cheek to find out if you are a match for him or another patient in need. His best chance of a match is with someone who shares his genetic heritage. We inherit the matching factors from our parents and ancestors, similar to how hair and eye color is passed down. 

If you have Black or African-American ancestry, please join the registry today.

Our goal is to help Ancil beat this diagnosis and get back to his regular life. Being there for his three children means everything to him. Let’s make sure this beautiful family has an incredible future together.

More about Ancil

Ancil’s wife Natalie has been by his side throughout this challenging time. He is a proud alumnus of Florida A&M University (FAMU), where he earned both his undergraduate and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees. In addition to being an alum, Ancil also teaches at FAMU, and is a sponsor of the Black Men in Medicine chapter at the university. 

Ancil is devoted to his place of worship, the Celebration Baptist Church, where he has been a member for more than 10 years and serves as a deacon. 

In his free time, Ancil enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing video games, working out, walking his two dogs, and attending sporting events.

Gift of Life is now working with Ancil and Natalie and their family to help find a matching donor to give blood stem cells and help him recover.

What you can do to help

Details about joining the registry:

• Join the registry! Click on the blue "Join Registry" button. 
  • Donors in general good health between 18 and 35 years old may join the registry. Donors over the age of 35 can also join, but we ask that you to please donate $60 to offset the lab fees – Click here to learn why.  
  • Eighty percent of donors requested by transplant centers are 18 to 35 years old for medical reasons – Click here to learn why Age Matters.
  • Donors can remain in the registry until their 61st birthday – Click here to learn why the registry has an Age Limit.
  • Certain medical conditions may mean you are not able to join the registry or donate – Click here to check the Conditions List. If you're not sure, a health history questionnaire is part of the registration process.
• Sponsor a swab kit. Click on the orange "Give to My Circle" button. Lab processing of every kit costs $60. Your contribution will help add new donors to the registry, who may be a match for Ancil or another patient. 
• Spread the word through social media. The more people who join the registry, the faster he will find a donor.