Cate, an 11-year-old girl, smiles while posing in a green and gold cheerleading uniform outdoors, holding pom-poms.
Cate in her cheerleading uniform.

It’s our turn to cheer for Cate

Cate, 11, is full of creativity, determination and a love for cheerleading. Today, she needs a team behind her as she searches for a life-saving blood stem cell donor.

Meet Cate

Cate is a fun-loving, 11-year-old with a big imagination and an even bigger heart. She loves cheerleading, building with Legos, writing stories and spending time with her family.

Cate was just two months old when she was diagnosed with bone marrow failure. Since then, she and her family have spent more than a decade facing one health challenge after another, never losing hope.

In October 2025, a bone marrow biopsy revealed a TP53 mutation, making the need for a blood stem cell transplant even more urgent. Her parents and older sister were tested, but none were a full match.

Get started saving lives today: Sign up online and we’ll mail you a free swab kit. Swab your cheek, send it back and you’ll be added to the registry!

Cate sits on a hospital bed wearing a hospital gown and focuses on drawing in a sketchbook.
Cate colors in her hospital gown during a visit.

See how joining could change Cate’s life

Cate and her family have turned their search for a donor into a mission—sharing Cate’s story, organizing donor registry drives throughout their community and encouraging others to join the registry in hopes of finding her life-saving match. Through it all, Cate continues to bring joy, creativity and hope to everyone around her.

Today, Cate’s best chance at a healthy future depends on finding an unrelated blood stem cell donor—and that person could be you.

Cate smiles from a hospital bed while holding a tablet, surrounded by medical equipment.
Cate smiles and flashes a peace sign while listening to music.

Through years of hospital visits, blood transfusions and the weight of uncertainty, Cate has shown extraordinary resilience. Even on days when bone pain makes it hard to get through school, she continues to make time for her hobbies and shows up with a smile at drives.

Jenni

Cate’s mom

Your impact starts here

Through NMDP, one simple step can have a life-changing impact. By joining the registry, you could help patients like Cate find the blood stem cell donor they need for a healthier future. Your impact could be greater than you imagine.