As a husband and father of two young boys, Bill is a busy family man whose weekends are filled with soccer and fun.  That active and full life was suddenly at risk when at the age of 36, he suffered a heart attack resulting from a blood clot.  He was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia soon after.

 

Bill was treated at Richmond Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina.  Though his leukemia went into remission, doctors felt that a transplant would offer the only true cure.  Bill’s sons, Danny and Michael, were just six and seven years old at the time, and he was determined to recover quickly.  His transplant took place in 2009 at the University of North Carolina and thanks to his competitive nature, he recovered quickly and left the hospital in record time. 

 

Today, Bill has made enjoying life with his wife, Felicia and the boys a top priority.  He feels he is a better person than before the transplant and appreciates each day with his family, which is the most important thing to him. 

 

After the transplant, Bill asked to meet his donor.  They began communicating but it took nearly two years for their schedules to allow for a meeting.  When a business trip brought Bill to Baltimore, Maryland, they were finally able to make it work. 

 

Bill said, “You learn to accept people’s generosity when your back is against the wall. All I ever wanted to do was look him in the eyes and say thanks.  After we finally met, I know he realized what he did.  That was an absolutely amazing moment.”

 

Bill’s donor, David joined Gift of Life’s registry in 2002 at a drive held at the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, Maryland.  He said volunteering to save someone’s life seemed like “a no brainer.” 

 

Years later, when he learned he was a potential match for a patient and could help save his life, David, “immediately got goose bumps and became really nervous.  I think I was in a bit of disbelief.”  After learning more about the donation process, he didn’t hesitate to proceed.

 

Thanks to support and encouragement from his family and Gift of Life, David’s donation went smoothly.  He remembers thinking that “any discomfort I was feeling was nothing to complain about given what the patient was enduring.”  He added, “I consider myself very fortunate to have matched and been given the ability to possibly save someone’s life.  Donating is truly one of the best feelings I have ever experienced.”

Both men described their initial meeting as “surreal”.  David said, “It was amazing to meet him in person and to know that I was a part of his recovery.”  He added that he has gained another “brother” in Bill, who sent him an autographed Ravens football helmet after they won the Superbowl in 2013. 

 

Bill said, “David and I will stay close for the rest of our lives.  Our relationship is very important to me.  I look at him as my hero.  Not only has he touched my life but his generosity has affected so many others. Truly a piece of him lives with me and I will be forever grateful.”