A bone marrow donor celebrates an extra birthday

When Jay Feinberg was diagnosed with leukemia in the early 90s, he was told that a needed bone marrow transplant would save his life. The search for his match through a donor recruitment campaign run by his friends and family paved the way for what we know as the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation. After finding matches for others in need and a dedicated four-year search, Jay’s miracle finally came in May 1995 thanks to Becky. Jay received his transplant at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and now, over 20 years later, saves lives on a daily basis.

The Gift of Life is one of North America’s public bone marrow, stem cell and umbilical cord registries. For many suffering from leukemia, lymphoma, other cancers, and genetic diseases, there is now hope for a cure through a transplant. That is, of course, if a match and donor can be found.

Because there is a greater chance of finding a donor with those of similar ethnic background, the small Jewish representation in the global registry made it hard for Jay to find his match in the 90s. The Gift of Life today has come to not only be the first registry whose goal is to add diversity to the donor pool, but to also start the practice of painless cheek swabs to test potential donors.

Every match found, hope given, life saved, and future generation that stems from a recipient is due to the ambition and being of Jay and his family. A quick cheek swab in May 2010 changed my life as well as the life of a 62-year-old man who, a year ago, was fighting for his life. I was notified as a potential match in January 2011 and after blood tests, my status was upgraded to a complete match. My thoughts were filled with fear of my power rather than fear of the needle. I held the power to deny life as easily as I could grant it along with hope to this stranger, his family, friends and community all rooting for his recovery. My decision was clear and after a complete physical and medical examination, the date for my bone marrow harvest was set.

While waiting to be brought down to the operating room on the morning of April 7, 2011, I had the opportunity to meet my recipient and friend through a letter- the most special part of my donating experience so far. One year later and still clueless of my friend’s identity, I continue to hope that he is doing well and that we have the chance to meet one day.

As a tribute to my recipient, I knew I had to do more. I teamed up with Yehuda Wolfset whose father donated stem cells in 2006 and Sacha Issachson to organize a number of drives which found a match for a patient in need and added 220+ potential donors to the registry. We also organized a Gift of Life team for a Poland Spring run to raise funds and process more swab kits. I have spoken to fellow donors in the deciding process, become a Gift of Life Ambassador and look forward to my continuous involvement with Gift of Life. I just happen to have his similar genome and proteins in the blood. It is obvious that my recipient and friend is the real source of these miracles. He is the true hero.

My friend wrote to me that he now has two birthdays, his original birthday and the day that he was given a new lease on life. One year after the transplant on April 7, 2012, I sent him a package with a balloon, pin, candles, and card wishing him health, happiness, and a very happy birthday. This day has long been circled on my calendar as I anticipated receiving a year update on the health of my friend. Along with the important life lessons, fading scars on my lower back and appreciation taken from my donating experience, I now have the best part of it all--relief that he is doing well and back to his daily routine. It is crazy to think that a full year has already passed but nothing makes me happier than knowing that it has been a great one for him and his family. I look forward to celebrating many more April 7 birthdays with him in the future.