In 2022, Sara was scrolling through Instagram when she saw one of Gift of Life’s ads requesting people age 18 – 35 to join the registry. 

“I thought signing up sounded like a good thing to do and would make a really cool experience,” said Sara. “I’ve always wanted to help people. I tapped on the ad and ordered a kit.” 

Sara’s swab kit arrived a few days later and only took a few minutes to complete. She then sent it back in the included postage-paid envelope.

Five months later, Sara received a call from a Boca Raton phone number. 

“I was in a meeting when I received the call, so I let it go to voicemail,” said Sara. “When I checked my messages, I realized it was Gift of Life! I was honestly a little nervous! I was definitely not expecting to have a match found so soon, but I guess that means that my recipient was already looking for a donor. I called them back and when they told me that I matched with a 17-year-old girl, I was definitely way more excited to be able to help her than I was scared.” 

As soon as Sara finished her call with Gift of Life she told her friends and parents she had matched with a 17-year-old girl battling Myelodysplastic Disorder in need of a Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) transplant. 

“Most of my friends were pretty surprised, but also excited for me,” said Sara. “My parents were asking stuff like, ‘Isn’t it painful to do?’ The donor services coordinator I spoke with had already answered a lot of my questions, so I was able to explain the process and provide actual facts and dispel some of the misconceptions floating around.” 

After a physical exam and a blood test confirming her Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) were the best match for her recipient, Sara and her friend Nathan were flown to Boca Raton, Fla. by Gift of Life. Travel, a meal stipend, and a hotel stay were provided by the organization. 

“Gift of Life took great care of me,” said Sara. “They were all so accommodating and I could tell they really cared about me and everyone who comes to donate. During my collection, I hung out with Nathan and we watched ‘Criminal Minds.’ The whole thing took about three hours and I felt totally fine the entire time. I wasn’t tired or feeling bad afterward. I was able to go out for dinner that night.” 

Sara feels that donating PBSC for a complete stranger has taken on a special meaning for her. 

“I’ll always remember this experience and how easy it was to be able to make a huge difference in someone’s life,” said Sara. “That’s the big thing, it was easy! The people at Gift of Life do literally everything they can to make sure you have the best donation experience possible. It was such a meaningful process, and I’d do it as many times as needed.”

Sara, 27, is an alumna of Temple University and Chatham University. She now lives in Pittsburgh, Pa. where she works as a graphic designer. In her free time, Sara enjoys painting and playing outside with her Italian greyhounds James and Leo.