In September 2017, while David was a student at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, N.J., drives were being held every day to try and find a matching donor for Chaim, a young man from the community diagnosed with blood cancer. Although the search did not find a match, to date, 133 other patients have received lifesaving transplants from volunteers who tested during those drives.

“I didn’t know how the process worked and wondered, ‘Am I willing to do that if they find I’m a match?’” said David. “On the last day of the drive I realized, ‘Of course I would do it! To save someone’s life? Yes!’ I understood that I couldn’t stand by and wait while someone needed help. I could be saving them.”

Seven years later, he had almost forgotten about the registry when his mother, whom he had listed as his alternate contact in case his phone number changed, called to say Gift of Life had reached out and asked him to call back.

“I talked to Donor Services and once I found out I matched a man diagnosed with leukemia, I said, ‘It sounds like a great opportunity – let’s get going!’ I called my mom back and she agreed, it was very exciting.”

David is now a student at a yeshiva in Israel, but he and his wife Michelle flew to Florida with their two small children so he could donate blood stem cells at Gift of Life’s collection center in Boca Raton.

“We rented a house for a few days to be more comfortable with the children,” said David. “Gift of Life gave us gift cards for food and overall were very generous and took good care of us.”

While Michelle stayed with their children, David came to the collection center on his donation day and continued to be impressed with the experience.

“I got there and there was someone to take care of me right away,” he said. “After a quick blood test, they started the procedure, which wasn’t a big deal. They gave me a nice lunch and I got some cool Gift of Life items – a backpack, the orange blanket, and a S’well water bottle, which I still use for coffee every day. It gives me some bragging rights – people ask how I got it, and I get the chance to explain all about donating .”

When David talks to people about donating to save a total stranger, the response is always positive.

“People say, ‘You did a cheek swab and now you’re saving somebody’s life? That’s amazing!’” he said. “I feel connected to this anonymous guy across the ocean, someone I’d like to meet in person if I ever get the chance. It’s up to him really, but I would definitely want to.”

One particularly special person was also very impressed by the entire experience.

“My five-year-old son Tzvi is still talking about it,” he said. “He says, ‘Remember we went to this house with a pool, and daddy went to the doctor to give blood!’  He understands it at a child’s level, and he still uses the Gift of Life backpack – that’s his now and he uses it whenever we go traveling.”

David, his wife Michelle, and their two children live in Israel, where he is a student at the Mir Yeshiva. He enjoys playing with his kids, jogging and taking part in several sports.