In 2018, Courtney was in her first semester of grad school in public health at the University of Florida when Gift of Life Campus Ambassadors Samantha Sun and Eddie Datz showed up to speak to one of her classes about the importance of joining the marrow registry. 

“The process seemed simple,” said Courtney. “I didn’t think I would ever get picked, but what did it hurt to join? If something were to happen it would be great, so I swabbed. After joining, I got the Gift of Life emails every month, but over time I kind of forgot about it.” 

Like many donors who join the registry, she wasn’t a match right away. But, in late 2020, three days before Christmas, she started getting calls from a phone number in South Florida. 

“I have two friends who live in the area, but this wasn’t either of their numbers, so I wondered if something happened,” she said. “I was completely caught off guard when I answered that it was Gift of Life, calling to tell me I matched a woman in her late 60s who was fighting myelodysplastic disorder. My dad was in the background saying, ‘What’s going on? Is everything OK?’” 

When she got off the phone, she explained to him that she might be able to donate and save her matching recipient’s life. Then her mom came home from work, and she explained the whole thing again. At first, they thought she would be donating bone marrow, but then realized the request was for blood stem cells. Only about 15% of collections today are for bone marrow, usually requested for children. Most collections are for peripheral blood stem cells, where the same stem cells found in the marrow are collected via the apheresis process from the circulating blood. 

“They sent me a new swab kit to confirm I was the patient’s best match,” said Courtney. “In April, they called to say the transplant was not proceeding, but three days later I got another call – the patient and her doctors had changed their minds and were going forward. It was quite a whirlwind!” 

A month later Courtney was on vacation visiting friends in Pompano Beach, Fla. and while she was close by, stopped at Gift of Life’s collection center in nearby Boca Raton to have her veins checked, a standard procedure to prepare for donation. 

“My veins were in good shape and I was ready to donate,” said Courtney. Then Gift of Life learned there would be a delay as her patient was not yet ready for the transplant. But, after a few more months, an October date was set. 

Courtney traveled to Gift of Life on her own, and her workplace was very supportive of her taking the time needed to donate. 

“The Opal Grand hotel was wonderful, everyone there and at the donation center was nice, and the nurses were wonderful,” said Courtney. “While I was donating I did a little work, caught up on my emails, and read a book.”  

Because many of Courtney’s friends are also in public health, they wanted to hear all the details about donating. Several of them were also in her class at UF and joined Gift of Life’s registry that day. 

“Gift of Life is about public health, about helping others and bettering the community,” said Courtney. “To raise awareness about the registry I posted something on social media, and it reminded my dad that when he was growing up, one of his best friends had blood cancer and had a stem cell transplant that saved his life. He also worked with a man who had an extremely rare form of blood cancer and also had a lifesaving transplant within the past year. It’s been great to learn that people we know have been helped by the registry.” 

For those who are considering joining the registry, Courtney has some advice. 

“When I first got the call, I was overwhelmed with emotions, but I was still certain I was going to do it,” she said. “It turns out the procedure is not as scary as you think it might be, and it’s just the right thing to do. I did it because I could help someone, and if it were my family member or friend, I’d want someone to help us.” 

Courtney received her undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University and her graduate degree in Public Health from the University of Florida. She now works in public health at a federal contractor. She enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, and when there’s not a pandemic, she loves traveling and going to sports events.