Even before they were married, Ilana and David Adams were destined to do something great together as a couple. In January of 2002, as college students at Rutgers University, they were both involved in the campus chapter of Hillel. Having a strong sense of tzedek (social justice), both jumped at the chance to help others out. And since it only involved a swab of the inside of the cheek, it couldn’t have been any easier.
Life went on for both Ilana and David. They got married and continued toward college graduation. The day that they joined the Gift of Life registry was pushed to the back of their minds as they began their life as a couple. Neither of them could ever imagine just how significant the relationship between Gift of Life and each of them would become.
Nearly two and a half years later, Ilana received the call from Gift of Life, advising her that she had been identified as a potential match for child who was suffering from a life-threatening illness. Without hesitation, Ilana agreed to undergo additional testing to confirm that she was indeed the best match for the patient, and ultimately underwent a bone marrow harvest. She knew in her heart that what she was doing was truly a mitzvah. Today, Ilana continues to feel the tie to Gift of Life as an Ambassador and has spoken to groups in her hometown in New Jersey about her experience being a donor. “If people really understood they were saving a life, they wouldn’t think twice about it,” she says and emphasizes, “I would definitely do it again. It’s an easy mitzvah!”
In the meantime, Gift of Life contacted David and told him that he could be a match for an older man suffering from leukemia. He was told that unlike Ilana’s harvest procedure, if he was to donate, it would be his peripheral stem cells that would be collected. For five days prior to collection, David would receive an injection of a medication used to stimulate the cells and the actual procedure would take place on an apheresis machine, with one line taking blood out of his body and removing the needed cells, and then a second line that would return the remaining blood back into his body. David realized that he had the opportunity to save another person’s life, and readily agreed to go through the procedure. However, David was put on hold when the patient was not well enough to undergo the transplant, and finally donated his cells in August, 2008. His recipient is doing well and expected to make a full recovery.
Ilana and David now both realize how special their shared experience has been for the two of them as a couple and they look forward to the day when their son is old enough to be told about what they have done for Tikun Olam (repairing the world). They act as Ambassadors for Gift of Life, talking to others about their personal stories, raising awareness and helping to grow the registry. They are truly an invaluable part of the Gift of Life family!