Conor knew he wanted to donate either blood stem cells or bone marrow, so when the opportunity came to join the registry, he volunteered and completed his cheek swab kit. The registration drive was on campus at Tufts University in February 2016. Donor drives that semester were organized by Gift of Life’s Campus Ambassador Nick Judson, who, just a few months earlier, had donated bone marrow to a baby boy with an inherited immune disorder. 

When Conor was 11 years old, one of his friends was diagnosed with leukemia and was sent for treatment to a hospital in another state.

“My first trip away from my family was when my friend’s parents called and asked if I would come visit him about a week after his bone marrow transplant,” said Conor. “My friend was struggling through it, as the procedure is very hard on your system. I flew out and just hung out with him for a few days after the procedure. Fortunately, his transplant was successful and he’s now doing great. I saw firsthand how important it is to be on the donor registry, and it’s every human being’s right and responsibility to help out in that way if they can.” 

Five years after joining Gift of Life, Conor learned from his dad that the registry was trying to reach him, but only had an old phone number. 

“My dad called me at the office and said Gift of Life had called,” he said. “I was a match for a woman in her early 70s battling leukemia, and I was excited for the opportunity to help her.”

Conor’s mom wanted all the details to make sure he would be okay, but when she learned that donating blood stem cells is a non-invasive procedure and he would be back to normal in a day or two, she was fully supportive. 

“Coming to the collection center from New York City was my first time in the Boca Raton area,” he said. “It was a great experience – the car picked me up, I was greeted by all the staff members, and the procedure went quickly. It was great to meet the people I had talked to on the phone throughout the process and say, ‘thank you’ for their help.” 

During the stem cell collection Conor relaxed, watched a documentary on Netflix about climbing the 14 tallest mountains in the United States, and thought about his recipient. 

“My mom is close to the recipient’s age so when I heard about her, well, if I would do this for my mom of course I would do it for someone else.” said Conor. “It’s changed me. If you can help someone as a human being, that’s a responsibility. If you can make a difference and have an impact on someone’s future, that’s a cool thing to do.” 

Conor lives in New York City and works as an investment professional at a firm he founded with two others. He graduated from Tufts University and was a player on that school’s soccer team. After graduation, he started looking for a new athletic endeavor, and took up marathon running, completing his first New York Marathon right before donating.