When Gift of Life called me in 2019 telling me I was a match for a leukemia patient, I felt like I had won the lottery. I was able to donate my stem cells to save someone’s life – while this was truly no burden on my end, it showed me how short life can be. Cancer can come in at any time and cut someone’s time short. After living through COVID, I’ve come to realize the importance of seizing the day and living life to the fullest now since tomorrow is never a guarantee.
That is why I am leaving my job to conquer one of my bucket list items this summer, and will be hiking the Northern section of the world-famous Appalachian Trail. I have always been an avid hiker and have scaled mountains from Mount Olympus to Mount Washington. But living on the trail for a few months will take my love of the outdoors to a whole new level!
I will hike over 800 miles of the Appalachian Trail between New Jersey to Maine, passing through several states along the way. Living on the trail for a few months out of my backpack will certainly be a challenge and will be uncomfortable at many times. But I am sure I will come out of it stronger and resolved to accomplish my goals in life, no matter how high the actual or metaphorical mountain may be.
While I am living my dream of conquering the trail, I am asking anyone reading this to help others live their dream by supporting Gift of Life, as I have seen firsthand how their work truly saves lives and gives cancer patients and their loved ones another chance so that they can conquer their own dreams free of cancer.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 71 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 25 year old woman battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 51 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 58 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 58 year old woman battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 51 year old man battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 49 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 72 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 66 year old man battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has transplanted a 42 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 6 year old girl battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 42 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 60 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 74 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 74 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 62 year old man battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 64 year old woman battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 39 year old woman battling Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 46 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 1 year old girl battling Aplastic Anemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 52 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 71 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has transplanted a 58 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 56 year old woman battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 58 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has transplanted a 67 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 58 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 69 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 62 year old man battling Plasma Cell Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 74 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 67 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 54 year old man battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 66 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 27 year old man battling Inherited Immune Systems Disorders.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 51 year old woman battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 20 year old man battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
A donor sponsored by Benjamin Atwater's Donor Circle has matched a 29 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.