Emma, 23, donated stem cells to help her matching recipient, a woman in her 60s diagnosed with myelodysplastic disorder. “I joined the registry during my freshman year of college when Gift of Life came to my Gamma Phi Beta sorority house at the University of Florida,” said Emma. “It was very rewarding to learn that I was a match and to know that I can help save someone’s life.” Emma and her mother came to Boca Raton for her collection at Gift of Life’s headquarters. “Since I live in Florida, we drove down and went shopping at Sawgrass Mills Mall just for fun,” she said. Emma felt great during her donation, so she also had plans for the afternoon. “After the process was finished, we went to the beach by the hotel and took it easy,” said Emma. “It was really nice to relax.” She also has encouragement for those who aren’t sure about donating. “Just do it! It’s a lot easier than it seems, and the outcome for the patient is very much worth the process,” said Emma.

Avi, 42, was a member of Gift of Life’s registry for 19 years when he was finally called as a match for a patient, a woman in her 60s with leukemia. “I joined the registry in 2006 at my congregation,” said Avi. “When I finally got the call to donate, I honestly did not believe it. I thought it was a scam or something. I had totally forgotten about it!” However, Gift of Life tracks every swab that comes in, and can remind donors of the date and recruitment drive where they swabbed. That’s usually enough to jog a donor’s memory. “It was good to know I could still help someone even after such a long time,” said Avi. “You can’t say no to the call to help a person, and the experience has been great. Everyone is very friendly and accommodating.” Avi also found that donating in Florida had its perks. “Not only was it an easy process – very painless, like getting a blood test – I also got to take a walk on the beach and do some swimming,” he said. “You don’t feel a thing. This is very simple to do, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t donate.”

Britney, 25, recently donated stem cells to help a man in his mid-30s recover from leukemia. “I joined the registry in 2023 at Florida Gulf Coast University,” said Britney. “They have an annual Service Learning Fair, and Gift of Lift had a table there.” A little over two years later, she was called upon to donate. “I was so surprised to learn I was a match, and it was funny because the call came just two weeks after I had moved to an area close to Gift of Life’s collection center,” she said. “It was amazing to me that I was able to potentially save my recipient’s life and make the quality of his life better.” Since she now lives locally, Britney drove to the center, and her mom came with her as her companion for her donation day. “Living nearby was super convenient. I didn’t need to stay in a hotel, and I got to sleep at home after donating,” said Britney. She also had a very positive donation experience. “The facility was really good, and everyone was super nice and organized. While there was a lot of testing, it was all worth it at the end of the day. It’s important to do something bigger than you and help someone else. A lot of the world needs that nowadays.”

You, too, can be a lifesaving hero!  Click here to order a cheek swab kit and join the registry.