Sunday August 26 was a day met with great anticipation by two very special New Yorkers. One a heroic bone marrow donor, the other a courageous leukemia survivor. Both welcomed the morning ready to embrace each other for the very first time after an anonymous life-saving transplant.

 

The venue for this emotional occasion was Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. Moments before the team took on the Houston Astros, transplant recipient Robert Richter and his family were introduced to the hero who saved his life - fellow New Yorker Michael Davis. In the presence of team mascot Mr. Met, Robert and Michael walked onto the field and received a round of applause from the fans watching them on the jumbotron.

 

Bill Begal, Gift of Life's Chairman of the Board, facilitated the introduction. The two men met with a tremendous hug and seemed unable to let go. Michael asked Robert how he was feeling, to which his recipient replied, “I’m feeling great, I’m feeling great because of you.”

Michael, a father of two, explained to his oldest child, Layla, that the family was “going to meet someone daddy shares blood with.” Family and friends, inspired by Michael’s heroism themselves, signed up as potential Gift of Life donors, although Michael remains modest about being a role model.

 

While awaiting his transplant, Michael's recipient Robert produced a 30-minute movie entitled “My Butterfly” which has been nominated for awards by the Brooklyn and the Long Island Film Festivals. Robert recalls living life one day at a time, realizing that every day is precious. He added that he wouldn’t have had the chance to meet his granddaughter Jenna, who was born after his transplant, or his grandson, who is due the first week of September, had Michael not donated.