Among Gift of Life's most successful programs is its landmark recruitment partnership with campus-based groups including Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life and AEPi Fraternity. The program, now in is fourth semester, has resulted in the addition of over 10,000 young, healthy volunteers to Gift of Life's Registry and has already saved the lives of over two dozen patients whose donors were recruited on campuses throughout North America.

 

Gift of Life recently celebrated the extraordinary success of this program by introducing the very first donor recruited on a campus to the man whose life she saved. The donor, Amy Fishman, joined the Registry when she came upon a recruitment drive coordinated by the Hillel at George Washington University in the fall of 2004 while she was on her way to the gym. In the span of a few minutes, the 18 year old freshman had reviewed the information, filled out her paperwork and performed the simple cheek swab test. Just two months later, Amy became very first student recruited through this partnership to match a patient who needed a transplant. Without hesitation, she donated her blood stem cells to a 60 year old man with leukemia she had never met.

 

That man was Martin Feldman, of Leominster, MA. One year after the transplant, the two were introduced at a luncheon graciously hosted by Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJP) at their beautiful headquarters. They were introduced by Sari Rapkin, a board member of CJP and ardent supporter of Gift of Life. As Marty embraced Amy for the first time, he tearfully told her, "I don't know how ever to thank you. This organization and what you have done are so aptly named, Gift of Life, because that's what you gave me." He continued, "I was looking at death, but here I am a year later celebrating this day with you and your family and looking forward to so many wonderful things. Thank you."

 

Marty, who was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in April 2000, spent his life caring for babies, children and young adults through his work as a pediatrician. In a dramatic twist of timing, Marty's grandson was born just days before the transplant. His eyes filled with tears as he explained the joy of being present at the bris. Marty's wife Geri commented, "We thought this child was going to be named for him." Now, thanks to Gift of Life and Amy, Marty looks forward to not only enjoying his grandson, but walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding.

 

As he recounted his transplant experience, Marty told an incredible story that illustrates just how much Gift of Life has done to improve the chances that Jewish patients will find donors. While discussing the transplant with his physician, Dr. Joseph Antin at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Marty informed him that he was Ashkenazi Jewish. Dr. Antin smiled with relief and said, "Ashkenazi Jewish? NO PROBLEM. Gift of Life will find a match for you!" The most satisfying part of that story is the fact that Marty never knew there was a time when no one could have imagined these words!

 

Just three weeks after the meeting, Amy and Marty's son, Josh Feldman presented a moving program at the opening session of the Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer B'nai B'rith Hillel Forum on Public Policy in Washington, DC. As Amy was introduced, she received a standing ovation from 300 of her peers, the leaders of Hillel. After showing a video of the meeting (click here to watch the video), Amy told the audience, "I have had such a great experience with Gift of Life and being a donor. If the opportunity arises for anybody, they should seriously consider doing it. It has changed my life." She continued, "I tripped into doing this because I came across the drive at GWU. I was tested on a whim, but I became a donor and saved a life, and it's become a part of me." Amy encouraged students to run drives on their campuses and explained that, "It's not likely that everyone in this room will match a patient who needs a transplant, but every one of you does have the potential to save a life by getting involved in this program, educating other students and coordinating drives on your own campuses. Maybe the next match will be found at your drive! Just imagine knowing that lives are being saved because of your actions." Josh echoed this sentiment when he acknowledged the contribution of Jamie Konigsberg, the student who coordinated the drive where Amy was registered.

 

Josh wrapped up the program by thanking the leadership of Hillel for realizing the life-saving potential of partnering with Gift of Life and for making it a social justice initiative. He said, "My family is eternally grateful to Amy, Jamie, Hillel and Gift of Life for the miracle they gave to us. This program is an incredible opportunity to truly make a difference by saving lives in our community. With your help, the miracle that my family experienced can be repeated over and over again."

Update: It is with great sadness that we announce the recent and sudden passing of Martin Feldman, z”l on July 30. He will be missed by the many friends and family who knew him. We hope that the story of Marty and Amy, whose gift of blood stem cells gave him an additional eighteen months to enjoy his family, will continue to inspire many to take part in Gift of Life’s mission.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Marty’s family at this difficult time.