A smiling young woman is comfortably reclined in a medical chair, donating blood stem cells.

Be someone’s one in a million

Within months of joining the registry, Kara learned that she was a donor match for a patient. She stepped up to donate blood stem cells and you can, too.

Kara’s first step to joining

It was just another day on campus when Kara’s classmates encouraged her to join the NMDP RegistrySM at a recruitment drive hosted by her sorority, Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta). She received an email a few months later letting her know she was a potential match for a patient.

A smiling woman holds up the peace sign.

Meet Kara

Kara, a business management major at the University of Arkansas, has a connection to NMDPSM that runs deep. After discussing her family history with her mom, Kara discovered she's related to Robert Graves, whose efforts to save his daughter Laura led to the creation of the national donor registry.

It’s easy to get started: Sign up and we’ll mail you a free swab kit. Just swab your cheek, send it back and you’ll be added to the registry!

A life-saving decision

When she received an email from NMDP only months after swabbing, Kara wasn’t sure what to do next. After learning more about blood stem cell donation, Kara was inspired by the potential to save a life and be someone’s one in a million. Her family connection made her decision to donate even more meaningful. Despite experiencing some side effects like bone soreness and back pain, she said she would donate again if called.

Learn more about becoming a donor

A smiling woman wearing an "I'm a donor" t-shirt, holds a bag of blood stem cells while standing next to a smiling man.
Kara, blood stem cell donor, with her dad, Todd

I know people stay on the registry for years and years and never hear anything. So the fact that I was called two or three months after I swabbed and matched with someone is just crazy. I felt very honored.”

Kara

Blood stem cell donor

The key to a cure

It’s YOU. Like Kara, when you sign up to become a blood stem cell donor, you could make someone’s cure possible.