Two people who are deeply connected – but had never met – were introduced for the first time on July 24, 2023 at Gift of Life’s Campus Ambassador Symposium held at the Boca Raton Marriott. The event was hosted to train Gift of Life Campus Ambassadors, known as CAPs, to run donor recruitment drives on their college campuses across the country. 

During the symposium dinner, Gift of Life Recruitment Manager Traci Ackerman welcomed peripheral blood stem cell donor Adam Leblanc on stage. Adam joined the marrow registry in 2020 as part of a swab drive for Florida Atlantic University’s lacrosse team, one of the first drives coordinated and run by Traci when she had just joined the staff. 

Finally, the big moment arrived and stem cell recipient Michael Johnson was welcomed to the stage with his mother, Rebecca. Adam and Michael shared a long hug, and then Rebecca tearfully embraced Adam. 

“Thank you, Adam, for giving me more time with my son,” she said. 

“I joined the registry because of the organization’s mission,” said Adam. “I was convinced that it was a great opportunity to help someone else and sacrifice very little for so much benefit for someone in need. I had seen the affects of cancer and blood diseases on my family. The trials of these diseases are truly difficult, and I am grateful that I am healthy enough to help.” 

Fifteen-year-old Michael was diagnosed several years earlier with Fanconi anemia, an inherited blood disease that can cause blood cancer and bone marrow failure. Doctors told him the only hope for a cure would be a blood stem cell transplant.

“At the time, I don’t think I fully understood what the diagnosis meant,” said Michael. “I was very scared.”

Testing revealed that none of his family members were a close enough match to him and he had to look for a donor on the registry. Only about 30% of transplant patients can find a match within their family; the other 70% rely on registries around the world, like Gift of Life, to find a compatible donor.  

However, the testing of family members did reveal some troubling news about Michael’s brother. 

“When checking to see if he was a match, they discovered that he also has Fanconi anemia,” said Michael. “That was hard for my parents, to know that both of us would need transplants." 

Fortunately for Michael, within three weeks of starting the search a match was identified in Adam, who was already on Gift of Life’s registry. 

Gift of Life coordinated with Adam so he could donate at the Adelson Collection Center in Boca Raton in January 2022. Michael’s transfusion happened the next day. 

“I appreciate life more and look forward to doing things I enjoy that I didn’t think I would get the chance to do before my transplant,” said Michael. “I look forward to talking more with Adam and maybe getting to celebrate with him each year of my re-birthday.” 

Adam, 21 is a full-time student at Florida Atlantic University and is also working as an architectural intern. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, fishing, and hanging out with his friends.

Michael, 15, is now a high school student from Wisconsin, and is also working part time at a local grocery store. His interests include snowboarding, computer gaming, and his marching band.