Philip, a retired army physician from San Antonio, TX was feeling ill in September of 2010 after returning home from a trip to Mexico.  He said, “I knew by the look on the young doctors’ faces it was bad.  They said I had Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and my white blood cell count was over 10,000.”  He was moved to Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base and had a cardiac incident that night.  With overwhelming fear, Philip thought he was not going to make it, but with family, including his wife of 27 years, Catherine, by his side, Philip began his long road of treatment and recovery. 

 

Philip’s family, including six children and eight grandchildren, was very sad that they were unable to donate for the transplant that could save his life.  He said, “I felt like I was running out of time and the thought of a stranger donating for me seemed impossible.”  With the news that a match had been found for him, they felt pure joy.  Philip explained, “It was a stranger who was going to give me another opportunity at life.  The appreciation I felt was overwhelming.”  He added, “When I found out they had a donor for me I felt warm again.  I could take a deep breath and smile after a year of never knowing if there was going to be a tomorrow.  The desperation melted away." 

 

The months leading up to the transplant were difficult for Philip.  When the staff informed him that the plane with his transplant had landed and everything was a go, he became tearful.  After such a long wait, he kept thinking, "I cannot believe that this is finally happening."

 

Tamar, a recent graduate of Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, joined Gift of Life’s registry beside the Western Wall in Jerusalem while studying in Israel in 2010.  When she learned that she was a match for Philip, she was overwhelmed.  She said, “I actually was in my freshman anthropology class when I got the initial email and I really had to try hard not to jump out of my seat and interrupt the class.”

 

Tamar never questioned her decision to donate, and said that the entire process was easier than she expected.  She added, “You're doing such an amazing thing to help someone you don't know.  Also, the Gift of Life staff took such good care of me. I had someone with me every step of the way in the hospital so everything went smoothly.  I would 100% donate again.” 

 

After the transplant, Tamar began receiving letters from Philip.  She said, “He seems very appreciative and so caring.  I cried after receiving the first letter from him.  That was the first time I realized how much of an impact a few days of my life had had. I didn't mind all of the needles, and it didn’t interfere in my everyday life, but he was able to spend more time with his children and grandchildren.”

 

Philip and Tamar had the unique experience of meeting for the first time on the Chicago, IL set of the Whitney Reynolds Show, which will air nationally on PBS this Fall.  

 

Tamar said, “Meeting Philip was one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced.  He and his wife were so grateful that I was simply overwhelmed at first.  It was so nice to be able to get to know him, to see what he's like.  I'm so happy to have met Phil and can't wait until we meet again.”

 

Philip agreed, saying, “The trip to meet Tamar was another gift, an opportunity to experience life, to meet an angel, a bright star in my life.  I feel forever bonded to this young woman.  Somehow ‘thank you’ will never be enough.”  He added, “Every day I wake up is a precious gift from a selfless woman who has touched my heart.  The thousands of people around the world who have volunteered to donate to strangers, I hope they realize that we are not strangers. We are people who need each other to survive.”

 

Philip explained that, following his transplant and long recovery, “My personal outlook on life has changed, especially in regards to my family and wife.  I thought I was going to live a long time, and I took so much for granted before.  I appreciate everything, every holiday, every family celebration, all of it.  I spend more time listening and laughing.  I know what it’s like to not have any time left.  I know now to not waste a moment.”  He described his donor as, “A remarkable young woman and a humanitarian.  We appreciate her selfless act that gave me another chance to live.  I am so thankful we have special people in this world like her.”