March 3, 2023 will always be a special day for two women whose lives are now intertwined – one of them saved the other’s life, and this was the moment when donor Edie Statham (above left) met transplant recipient and leukemia survivor Megan Turek-Green (above right) for the first time.  Donors and recipients must remain anonymous for the first year after the transplant, so when they finally have the opportunity to meet, it’s an emotional occasion. 

The event, held at the historic Duke Mansion in Charlotte, N.C., was the Wine Dinner for Project Life Movement (PLM), a fundraiser for the organization, which is a recruitment partner of Gift of Life Marrow Registry.  PLM’s Board of Directors Chairman Matt Snyder, owner of Winestore, donated the wine for the evening, and PLM’s National Ambassador Luke Kuechly, a former Carolina Panther and NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2013), served as host for the evening. 

“The evening was such a special one,” said PLM Executive Director Ann Henegar. “We were able to share our mission with our guests – full circle. From the students and administrators who partner with us on colleges campuses, to the selfless people who donate their life-saving stem cells, to Megan meeting her life-saving hero, Edie. It is our goal to provide all the patients battling blood cancer the hope for another tomorrow.”

Deputy Director of Hematology Operations at Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte Dr. Brittany Ragon, who was Megan’s doctor during her treatment, gave some background about Megan and Edie, then introduced them. The pair shared both a long hug and tears of joy.

“What else can you say when you meet your donor but thank you,” said Megan. “There are no words, I am just so grateful that someone thought, 'hey, I’ll just save somebody’s life today!' I can’t wait to talk to you – thank you so much.” 

“I’m so grateful I was able to do this,” said Edie. “This is so special to me, I can’t tell you how excited I was when I got that call that I was a match. Then, when I got the call about coming to this event, I started crying. I was so excited to meet you.” 

Edie, 25, joined the registry in 2018 at a drive held on the Tufts University campus. 

“I was on the leadership team for Relay for Life,” said Edie. “My sophomore year we had Project Life Movement representing Gift of Life at our event and that’s where I and all my friends joined the registry.  When I saw the swab table I didn’t hesitate – I knew if I had the chance to save someone’s life I would do it in a heartbeat.” 

That chance came in 2021. Megan, the mother of three who had recently relocated to the Charlotte area, was diagnosed earlier that year after experiencing ongoing exhaustion and unexplained pain. A full series of blood tests identified that she had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), and she was immediately hospitalized. 

“My kids were my first thought, but I also believed that I would get through this,” said Megan. “My doctors didn’t even test my family, they immediately started to search the registry as they felt it would give me the best match.” 

Megan was one of those incredibly lucky patients who had several 10/10 matches, and when the first two were not able to donate, the third was her lucky charm! 

“I genuinely believe my donor was meant for me,” said Megan. “It’s crazy to me that this young woman, around the same age as my daughters, was on her college campus and made the decision to be an angel if she was called to do so.” 

For Edie’s part, the call to donate was a moment of pure excitement. 

"I was home after a long day during my first semester of medical school when I got the call from Gift of Life,” she said. “The week prior we had a lecture related to stem cells and at the end the professor had made a plug for people to join the registry.” 

Edie’s school, Albany Medical College, was incredibly supportive of her need to take a few days to fly to Florida for the donation. 

“During my donation I switched between watching my class lectures and just relaxing and watching movies,” she said. “It was a special experience for me – I want to become a doctor because of my passion for working in oncology. I felt truly honored to have the opportunity to donate, and it made a big impact on me.” 

Now that the two have met, they plan to learn much more about each other and look forward to a unique friendship.  

Edie, 25, is a graduate of Tufts University and is currently a medical student at Albany Medical College. She is also a musician, playing guitar and singing, and enjoys baking, hiking, and hanging out with friends. 

Megan, 45, had just begun traveling before her illness and now hopes to continue this new passion. She spends time with her boyfriend and her three children, and loves trying new recipes and exploring new places. She is an alumna of the College of Westchester with a degree in Computer Application Management.

Edie’s swab kit was sponsored by the McKesson Marrow Drive Donor Circle.

Are you a college student seeking to make an impact?  Apply to our Campus Ambassador Program and represent Gift of Life Marrow Registry on campus. Help us add new donors to the registry, and educate your peers about the incredible opportunity to save a life.