A simple swab launched Natalie's donor journey
Natalie, blood stem cell donor, with her dog
A simple swab launched Natalie's donor journey
Original published date: 8/29/2024
A lot of good starts with a little swab
From the outside, Natalie is not your typical 29-year-old. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a masters, works in a competitive field and enjoys exploring her community with her partner, Kelly. What sets Natalie apart is how her curiosity blossomed into a cure for a patient with aplastic anemia.
When she was a college student at Arcadia University, Natalie noticed an NMDPSM donor recruitment drive as she was leaving the cafeteria. Intrigued, she stopped by to discover more about blood stem cell donation and decided to swab her cheeks to join the NMDP RegistrySM. That moment was life changing.
I’ve always been someone who’s wanted to help as soon as I was old enough,” she said. “I never really expected to get a call [to be a donor] and never really thought I would have an opportunity to help, but I knew if there was ever a chance, I wanted to make sure I was signed up.”
Getting the call
Years after graduating college, Natalie received a call from NMDP informing her that she was a match for a patient. Her excitement and curiosity grew. She wasn’t nervous at all—she was ready to step into her saving lives era.
I joke that as soon as I got the call, I was like, ‘Yup, I’m there, whatever you need me to do.’ I wasn’t thinking about anything other than the fact that I can help save someone.”
Natalie
After filling out a health questionnaire and having her blood drawn, Natalie was told that she was the best match for the patient. She then completed an additional blood test and physical exam.
The big day
Natalie and Kelly traveled to Washington, D.C., for the bone marrow donation, one of two ways to donate blood stem cells. The surgical procedure required Natalie to be sedated, and doctors used needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of her pelvic bone.
Natalie said she had a great recovery, with only about two days of soreness, although it took a while to build her endurance back up. “I could go on long walks with no problem, but trying to build up my full endurance for runs took about two to three weeks after donation,” Natalie said. Despite that, she said she was glad she decided to donate.
Since donating, Natalie has heard plenty of stories about how cell therapy has been life-saving for so many. She hopes to one day meet her recipient, a college-age male who now has the ultimate gift because of her. “Just knowing that impact and realizing you don’t know what’s going on in everyone’s life or what they’ve experienced—it was just really cool to kind of see the trickle effect when I did share it more broadly,” said Natalie.
Just knowing that impact and realizing you don’t know what’s going on in everyone’s life or what they’ve experienced—it was just really cool to kind of see the trickle effect when I did share it more broadly.”
Natalie
We all have the potential to save a life. It starts with joining the registry and saying “yes” to donating blood stem cells when you get the call. Take the first step today.