On October 2, Kashton “Kash” Rand, had the incredible experience of meeting the man whose life he had saved through a stem cell transplant, Andrew “Drew” Carrigan. Both men are 21-year-old college students, but, because this type of transplant is anonymous for the first year, this was their first in-person meeting.

The event, organized by Project Life Movement (PLM), a recruitment partner of Gift of Life, was the second donor-recipient introduction facilitated at Boston College. The meeting was held in Gasson Hall along with the UGBC – Boston College’s student government group and the Boston College Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC). Bringing a donor-recipient pair together helps to spread the word about the impact of joining the registry.

Kash joined the registry in November 2021 during a drive organized by PLM on the Boston College campus.

“If you joined the registry, you could take a photo with football legend Luke Kuechly,” said Kash. “I wanted the picture, and it was for a good cause – I would be added to an international bank for those who needed a lifesaver.”  Kuechly, a former star linebacker for Boston College and the NFL Carolina Panthers, is the national ambassador for PLM.

At the time Kash was joining the registry, Drew was going through a devastating health crisis. 

“I was in the middle of the 2021 fall semester at Morehead State University when I became jaundiced and went to the emergency room,” said Drew. “After finding a doctor who could treat my liver condition, idiopathic hepatitis [a condition where the immune system attacks the liver], I learned that this could also cause damage to my bone marrow. I was soon diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia. I was in disbelief, I was a healthy person, I ran track and cross country and played basketball and golf. How could I have these rare medical problems?”

Drew’s best option for recovery was a blood stem transplant, and fortunately, an excellent match for him was already in the registry: Kash.

“When I got the call, I thought ‘How can I not answer this?’,” said Kash. “Someone actually needs you when this call comes. We’re the same age and I could see myself in him, so I just couldn’t turn it down. It’s such a small thing to do, but it has the biggest impact.” 

The moment for them to meet arrived, and Drew and his parents were invited to join Kash on stage. The two men shared a long hug and huge smiles to the applause of those attending the event.

“It didn’t fully hit me what I had done until they told me the transplant had been completed,” said Kash to Drew. “I have two older brothers, but now I have another brother, and it’s awesome!”

“We have so many similarities,” said Drew. “We talked on the phone a few times before this event and learned we like to do the same things. I just learned your dad is an athletic trainer and that’s my major. I think it’s awesome how intertwined our lives are.”

Drew’s parents also hugged Kash and his father, Christopher, took the microphone to share the family’s thanks.

“Registering to be a donor and then following through with it when you’re needed is everything,” said Christopher. “We were at the #1 ranked hospital in the country, we had the best doctors and amazing staff, and we were only missing one piece: the actual donor to give the stem cells to save Drew. It got bad for a while. No one wants to hear that the common cold could kill your kid. But Kash gave the stem cells and literally saved our son’s life. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

“It’s so easy to save the life of a blood cancer patient in need of their miracle match,” said PLM Executive Director Ann Henegar. “It all starts with a simple cheek swab. We have outstanding support from Boston College students and administrators and the UGBC and BC SAAC.  This has become a BC tradition. We just held a two-day recruitment event on campus and the new donors we added to the registry will lead to more lifesaving transplants in the future.”