Stories

Austinite meets woman whose life he saved with bone marrow transplant

Jul 2018 MEDIA COVERAGE

When you hear Traci Pruitt and Tom Koerner talk about this past weekend, you would have thought they are family members or close friends catching up. But they were complete strangers until Saturday. Pruitt and Koerner met for the first time this weekend in Los Angeles, after Koerner donated his bone marrow to Pruitt in 2013 - five years ago.

Upstate woman meets stranger who saved her life after diagnosed with cancer

Jul 2018 MEDIA COVERAGE

Traci Pruitt was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012. Doctors told her she needed to start treatment immediately. Her treatment included six rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Pruitt was an only child, so her hope resided in the bone marrow registry. "You worry. You wonder if you're going to find anybody," she said.

Woman who battled potentially fatal leukemia introduced to man who helped save her life at convention in L.A.

Jul 2018 MEDIA COVERAGE

A 47-year-old woman who was diagnosed with the potentially fatal blood cancer leukemia was introduced to the 30-year-old man who helped save her life on Saturday in Los Angeles. Traci Pruitt, of Ninety Six, South Carolina, was recipient and Tom Koerner, of Austin, Texas, was the donor.

FHMC Co-Hosts Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Registry Event

Jul 2018 MEDIA COVERAGE

On June 26th, 2018, Flushing Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) collaborated with the Gift of Life Marrow Registry on hosting a Bone Marrow/Stem Cell "Swabbing" event in the hospital’s main lobby. The event was held to benefit Carolyn Inzirillo and all those waiting for a life-saving match. Tracey Kavanagh, RN, Department of Surgery, at FHMC was instrumental in organizing the day.

South Orange Leukemia Patient Immediately Seeks Donor

Jul 2018 MEDIA COVERAGE

In a recently-launched national campaign, South Orange resident Merlo Weiss seeks a stem cell or bone marrow donor. Doctors recently diagnosed the 45-year-old with an aggressive form of bone marrow cancer called acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to updates on the Gift of Life website.

Franklin man donates stem cells to Canadian woman battling cancer

Jul 2018 MEDIA COVERAGE

For Christopher Read, being an organ donor is a no-brainer. Two decades ago, when Read’s son was only 3, he was diagnosed with diabetes. At the time, Read was not a registered organ donor in New Hampshire, but his son’s diagnosis changed everything.