Did you know that just swabbing your cheek could potentially save a life? Gift of Life is an incredible organization that hosts drives all over the country to find genetic bone marrow matches for those afflicted with various blood cancers and blood disorders. This organization works with the ever-growing global bone marrow registry to continue finding genetic matches for patients. Jen Magi, the ambitious President of GOL at FSU, shares her story on how she became involved and how the organization has grown.

On a 2004 trip to Israel, Beverly Hills resident Abraham Zilkha had his cheek swabbed to see if he would be a match for someone in need of a transplant of bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells, which can help replenish marrow and create new blood cells.

The shortage of registered bone marrow donors leaves many patients waiting years to receive a transplant, if ever. Gift of Life at Grand Valley State University recognizes the need for more donors and encouraged more than 100 people to step up at their registration event last week.

Two strangers from across the country have formed a friendship after one gives the gift of life. Scott Gray, a Jacksonville local, and former Marine traveled to California over the weekend to meet the man who has given him a second chance at life. Gray was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014.

The Gift of Life Marrow Registry will become the nation’s first marrow registry to operate its own stem cell collection center, making it easier and faster than ever before for volunteer donors to save the lives of patients battling blood cancer around the world.

Michelle Sion is getting the incredible opportunity to meet the person who gave her a life-saving donation. 56-year-old Michelle went to the doctor in 2017 when she was having difficulties making it through a workout. What doctors initially thought was a fungal infection turned out to be a life-changing diagnosis. Michelle had acute myeloid leukemia, and would need a stem cell transplant.