Life After the Donation Experience
Sep 25, 2013 by Gift of Life
News
For Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation’s Recruitment Coordinators Nick and Nicole, their employment is more than just a job. Both Coordinators donated while in school and chose to take some time to immerse themselves in Gift of Life before pursuing their careers. They want to give other people the opportunity to register with Gift of Life and have the experience of not only saving a life, but developing an incredible bond with their recipients.
When Nicole was studying in Israel in 2009, a boy in her community back home was in need of a bone marrow transplant. She immediately registered hoping she would be his match. Fate, however, would lead her in another direction. In Early 2011 Nicole received a phone call from Gift of Life letting her know that she was a match for Terry, a 64-year-old man with Leukemia. Nicole met her recipient during the 2013 Gala and has since formed a very special friendship with Terry's family. Nicole states that her donation taught her the importance of life, “that every person deserves the same chance.”
Nick donated to 5-year-old Cameron in 2008. Now, 5 years post-treatment, Cameron is back to his normal self with one very big difference, he now has a real-life hero in Nick. When Nick told Cameron’s parents he had decided to work for Gift of Life they were “really excited”. Nick explained, “We went through it together, we just didn’t know we were going through it together. They’re hopeful that I can have the effect on other people that I had on them.”
Gift of Life may not always have been what Nick and Nicole saw themselves doing, but they are both incredibly happy they chose this route. Nick graduated from St. John’s Law School in 2011. He is thrilled to work for Gift of Life, and in only a year he has facilitated over 140 drives. Nick’s reason for choosing Gift of Life over a career in law is simple, “When we get an email that a drive we set up resulted in a match, that resonates with people. It’s a very literal result that what you did that day mattered.” Not only does he have a chance to coordinate drives, he also goes to collections and sees the donations taking place. “For me, going to collections is nice,” Nick explained, “I get to see the direct results of something I did. It also makes people feel better when you’re sitting with them and have not only gone through it, but met your recipient.” His best experience so far? Nick helped coordinate a drive in Soul Cycle, a spinning studio in New York City. He also worked the event and had a chance to meet everyone that registered. A few short months later, he was sitting at a collection with a donor who registered at Soul Cycle.
Before going to medical school, Nicole decided to spend a year with Gift of Life. She explains that she wanted to do something meaningful with her year off, “I thought, what better way to spend my year than with Gift of Life? It’s a tribute to my recipient.” She hopes to educate as many people as possible on the importance of joining the registry, “especially the younger generations,” she said, “they will be passing this information on to their families and children.” Nicole knows her experience at Gift of Life will help her a great deal later on in life, “it’s shown me the personal side of illness. Going into my future as a doctor I will be able to combine this personal side with the science.”
Nicole summed up her thoughts on working for Gift of Life, explaining, “This isn’t just another bone marrow registry, or another job, it means something to me. I know how special it is, and want to pass this message on to as many people as possible. I’ve witnessed that lives and families are saved.”
