LIFE-SAVING NEW YORK MARROW DONOR MEETS HER TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT FOR FIRST TIME IN MANHATTAN
NEW YORK, Sept. 18 – A California leukemia survivor met her life-saving blood stem cell donor from New York for the very first time in an emotional ceremony at Gift of Life Marrow Registry’s One Huge Night Gala last night at Cipriani 42 nd Street.
Alison Roberts , 69, of San Rafael, Calif., was battling adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) until receiving her transplant last year from Lauren Gaines , 28, of New York City. The Manhattan event planner joined Gift of Life’s registry in 2011 while attending Tulane University.
“I’m happy to be able to participate and help someone and their family in such a meaningful way,” Gaines said after embracing Roberts. “This process has allowed me to appreciate the life I have and everyone that's a part of it.”
“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.”
Gift of Life Marrow Registry also introduced a second donor-recipient pair at the gala. Marcus Haggins , 9, of Philadelphia, who battled Severe Aplastic Anemia, met his life-saving stem cell donor, Gregory Mitchell , 30, a Baltimore financial advisor. He joined Gift of Life’s registry during a 2012 donor recruitment drive in Atlantic City, N.J.
Due to medical anonymity laws, donor and recipients must wait at least one year before meeting.
Haggins’ mother, Kim Kennedy , said that, “you don't know how much this means to me to give me my son back. Thank God we didn't lose Marcus.” Referring to Gift of Life and Mitchell, said added that, “they saved my son's life. You are my angel. There is no greater gift than life. None.”
“My life became more meaningful the day I donated,” Mitchell said, calling his joining the registry a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “By joining Gift of Life, you might get lucky enough to have the opportunity to step up to the plate for someone who needs you the most. You might be lucky enough to know how great it feels to donate to someone. You might even get lucky enough to know how great it feels to meet such a brave person.”
During the gala, Gift of Life also honored community leaders whose extraordinary commitments to the registry have profoundly impacted Gift of Life's life-saving work. Honorees included:
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.
NEW YORK, Sept. 18 – A California leukemia survivor met her life-saving blood stem cell donor from New York for the very first time in an emotional ceremony at Gift of Life Marrow Registry’s One Huge Night Gala last night at Cipriani 42 nd Street.
Alison Roberts , 69, of San Rafael, Calif., was battling adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) until receiving her transplant last year from Lauren Gaines , 28, of New York City. The Manhattan event planner joined Gift of Life’s registry in 2011 while attending Tulane University.
“I’m happy to be able to participate and help someone and their family in such a meaningful way,” Gaines said after embracing Roberts. “This process has allowed me to appreciate the life I have and everyone that's a part of it.”
“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.”
Gift of Life Marrow Registry also introduced a second donor-recipient pair at the gala. Marcus Haggins , 9, of Philadelphia, who battled Severe Aplastic Anemia, met his life-saving stem cell donor, Gregory Mitchell , 30, a Baltimore financial advisor. He joined Gift of Life’s registry during a 2012 donor recruitment drive in Atlantic City, N.J.
Due to medical anonymity laws, donor and recipients must wait at least one year before meeting.
Haggins’ mother, Kim Kennedy , said that, “you don't know how much this means to me to give me my son back. Thank God we didn't lose Marcus.” Referring to Gift of Life and Mitchell, said added that, “they saved my son's life. You are my angel. There is no greater gift than life. None.”
“My life became more meaningful the day I donated,” Mitchell said, calling his joining the registry a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “By joining Gift of Life, you might get lucky enough to have the opportunity to step up to the plate for someone who needs you the most. You might be lucky enough to know how great it feels to donate to someone. You might even get lucky enough to know how great it feels to meet such a brave person.”
During the gala, Gift of Life also honored community leaders whose extraordinary commitments to the registry have profoundly impacted Gift of Life's life-saving work. Honorees included:
- Mitzi and Warren Eisenberg of New York, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award (he also serves as Gift of Life’s Board of Directors secretary and trustee). The Eisenbergs have remained advocates and backers of the registry since it’s earliest days in the 1990s. “It is my privilege to serve on the board of directors alongside Jay Feinberg, who is building a registry that hopefully, one day, will enable us to find a donor for every patient needing a transplant,” said Warren. “Mitzi and I are thrilled to receive this lifetime achievement award.”
- Aryeh B. Bourkoff of New York, founder and CEO of LionTree, who received the Partners for Life Award. Bourkoff’s longtime involvement began with a company ping-pong tournament to educate staff, clients and friends about Gift of Life’s mission and he’s been a passionate supporter since. “For me, this is personal. I will never forget hearing that two swab kits supported by LionTree had found matches,” he said. “Two lives saved, whole worlds of joy and love, meaning and purpose preserved and allowed to grow. An act of kindness creates the possibility for a future.”
- The New York Mets baseball organization, recipients of the Corporate Partner Award, who have been steadfast supporters across 15 years of collaboration. Mets Manager of Community Engagement and Community Affairs, Julianne Sabra, who accepted the award on behalf of Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz, said the “Mets are proud to be a longstanding corporate partner of 15 years. We thank Gift of Life for the amazing work they do each day.”
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.
