Neighbor News
San Rafael Leukemia survivor meets life-saving stem cell donor
An emotional encounter between Leukemia survivor and her life-saving donor at Gift of Life Marrow Registry's "One Huge Night" gala in NY
See video of emotional encounter, via Gift of Life Marrow Registry,HERE
(Starts at 1:38:52) Video credit: Gift of Life Marrow Registry
SAN RAFAEL, Sept. 20 – Alison Roberts, 69, of San Rafael, Calif., met her life-saving stem cell donor for the very first time in an emotional ceremony at Gift of Life Marrow Registry’s “One Huge Night” gala in New York City on September 17.
The Marin grandmother, 69, was battling adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) until receiving her transplant last year in San Francisco. Her donor, Lauren Gaines, 28, a New York event planner, joined Gift of Life’s registry in 2011 while attending Tulane University.
“You helped me turn my problem into an opportunity,” said Roberts. “You gave me the chance to see the selflessness and pure altruism of a young woman helping a total stranger. You not only helped me avert a crisis, you gave me an opportunity to see the very best in humanity.”
“I’m happy to be able to participate and help someone and their family in such a meaningful way,” said Gaines. “This process has allowed me to appreciate the life I have and everyone that's a part of it.”
Due to medical anonymity laws, donor and recipients must wait at least one year before meeting.
Since its start in 1991, Gift of Life Marrow Registry has grown to more than 347,000 individuals who have volunteered to donate blood stem cells or bone marrow to save a life. To date, Gift of Life has facilitated over 16,600 matches for those with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell, and nearly 100 other diseases, resulting in more than 3,475 transplants.
