When Ayden Allswang signed up for a study abroad year in Israel in 2021, she never expected it would lead to a lifelong tie to another person, or to a New York Mets game at Citi Field! But five years later, Ayden was in the baseball stadium meeting a woman whose life she had saved through a stem cell transplant, Natalya Melnikova.

Natalya, 43, a pharmacist from Rockaway, N.J., is married and the mother of an 8-year-old boy.  A severe bout of back pain led to a doctor’s visit and the shocking diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, followed by learning that a blood stem cell transplant would be her best chance of a cure.

“My family members were not the best option for matches, so I was cautiously optimistic that a volunteer donor could be found,” said Natalya.

Her donor, Ayden, was already in the registry and had joined Gift of Life during her gap year studies in Jerusalem at Torah v’Adovah.

“I decided the registry was a good and easy opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life,” said Ayden. “Then, three years later, I was in the middle of a workout when I got a call from Florida. I thought it was probably spam but answered it just in case. When I found out I was a match, I was honestly in shock – I know the chances are very rare. As I learned about the next steps, I began to feel grateful and excited for this opportunity and was eager to get started.”

Ayden donated her stem cells in November 2024, and after they were flown to Natalya’s location and the transplant was completed, the long one-year wait to learn each other’s identities began. To protect both donors and recipients, they must remain anonymous for the first year. After that, if both parties agree, they can exchange contact information and meet in person.

For this pair, the Mets stepped up to give them the opportunity to meet at a game. Gift of Life’s partnership with the baseball team began in 2004, and a donor-recipient meeting is an annual event for the two organizations.

In an emotional private ceremony with their families present to share in the special moment, the two women greeted each other with warm hugs and a few tears of joy. Although the game was rained out and they did not get to visit the playing field, their real focus was on their shared experience.

“Ayden saved my life and gifted me time with my family – I cannot thank her enough,” said Natalya.

“I have kept my recipient and her recovery front of mind and continuously reminded myself to live with humility and gratitude,” said Ayden. “We, as strangers, are now bonded through this experience. I would like others to know that donating is an honor, and while it’s natural to be hesitant or feel uncertainty, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I encourage everyone who can, to swab and join the registry.”

Ayden and Natalya now share the same blood type and immune system, and they definitely plan to stay in touch and look forward to more visits in the future.

Ayden, 23, is a resident of Chicago. She is currently a graduate student in Psychology, with her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland. In her free time, she loves running, weightlifting, and dancing.

Natalya, 43, her husband, and her son reside in Rockaway, N.J., where she works as a pharmacist. She is a graduate of Long Island University and enjoys playing the piano and activities with her son.