A decision a decade ago by college student Marshal Davis saved Jacob Kowalik's life
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comJacob's donor: Bone marrow transplant forever alters two lives
Seeded on Sun May 1, 2011 12:01 PM EDT (msnbc.com)
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Thank you for highlighting this woderful story, and bravo to the donor, and every strength to jacob and his family! almost 11 years ago, my now 38-year-old daughter was saved from imminent death by the donation of a liver from the 2 daughters who were both pregnant when their mom passed away. if our system were an automatic opt-in (with the right to opt out), we would have no shortage of organs and tissues. cosider that we have almost 120,000 people who are waiting for a tissue or organ donation that could save their lives.
This is the most wonderful gift that you could ever give anybody!
Wonderful article! Jacob and Marshal, you two have definitely encouraged more people to register with the bone marrow data bank . . . including me!
Great story, but in reality I do not think Jakob will ever see this as good thing. Maybe more of a curse. The article mentions that he was healthy before the donation. Now, he has a lot of health issues and is on steroids. (most likely prednisone). I had a kidney transplant when I was 15 before I started to show any real health issues. I was a black belt, played for little league football, and was even asked to play for the high school football team. So after the kidney transplant my whole life changed for the worse. I could not play contact sports any longer and gained a lot of weight from the steriods. I also learned that the I.V steroid (prednisone) gave me Osteonecrosis (bone death) in both hips and knees. After the surgery the doctors told me that I had to take the drug and there was no other option. Long story short, when I finally stopped taking the medication the doctors told me that I had a 60% chance of being fine without the drug, and that there are new drugs out there now. So if this kid Jakob is on the steroid (Prednisone) get him off of it now. Never believe your doctors, always question them and do your own research. They never admit they are wrong and will lie right to your face. They are a lot like lawyers. I just hope he is young enough to forget being a healthy person. And if a bone marrow transplant is like a kidney transplant where you have to take outrageously expensive medications the rest of your life. Get ready to go to college and get a job with good insurance, or else you are going to have to live off the government the rest of your life. Oh yea, and you will not be able to get a job that pays more then around 200$ a month or you will loose your medicare and then you will not be able to afford your life sustaining mediation. America will just let you die. And because you are not able to work, people will hate you and just think you are lazy. Even the people that know your situation. I pray that what your going through is nothing like what I went and am currently going through. I wish you the best of luck and hope you can be stronger then I have.
Hans- I am so sorry for your pain. My son has a very rare disease that necessitated a kidney transplant when he was 16. He has been much better in the 4 yrs since then but was sick his entire childhood and faces an uncertain future as his underlying disease was not cured by the transplant. His medical experiences and yours are sadly very similar. His dad and I worry about his ability to find a job, despite being an intelligent, educated person. Many people who read your post won't get it, but I do (for what that's worth).
Hans...I'm sorry for your difficulties. I've had a stem cell transplant. I take no drugs associated with the stem cell transplant. The stem cells themselves are the medicine and they either work or they don't. It is very different than an organ transplant.
I hope the boy can get off the steroids, but GVHD is a kicker - and may make it very hard to get off of those and/or any anti-rejection meds.
Hans - you are correct - I have seen personally the struggles that a transplant patient has to go through - if you work you lose your drugs - chances of finding a job that will pay you enough to purchase your drugs AND live are very slim, when you have the medical problems before you get the job. It is a Catch 22 - you want to work - but you want to live, too, and there doesn't seem to be a happy medium.
Awesome story, thanks Mr. Davis for following through after so many years and giving Jacob a fighting chance. This is a true act of selflessness, if there were more of this the world would be a better place.
I am a three year survivor of acute leukemia. I had a stem cell transplant last year from a perfectly matched donor. I was told it was difficult to find a match, but thanks to a very generous donor like Marshal, I will live. God bless all who donate and save lives.
Keep up the good fight, JDClark!
JD...5 years for me next month. Congratulations on your transplant.
I donated bone marrow in June last year (flying to Australia from teh US to do it) and so far all the results are good. The donation wasn't anonymous (my uncle has leukemia) but I'd do it again in a heartbeat for anyone.
OH and I didn't do the stem cell treatment, I did the put you under and extract it from your hips (and no, it didn't hurt just a little sore in my lower back for the next week, totally worth it)
Thank you all for your comments.
Wonderful!! Simply wonderful.
I can recall back, about 10-12 yrs ago, when I got involved with the donor program. After having myself placed on the registry, I got my employer to also get involved, and initiate a company wide education program toward gaining additional donors.... about 5,000 employees. If someone had ever asked me what my greatest wish would be..... it would have been to be asked if I might offer my bone marrow. Although it never happened, and I'm now considered too old to donate, the experience was well worth the effort.
It's not often that someone has that kind of gift to offer someone else.... the chance of life. Please, please consider what you can offer, and register!!! :O) Thanks
Doug - how old is considered too old?
According to the bone marrow program my wife and I registered for, the cut off is 61. Don't ask me why. I'm now 65 and my wife is 64 with absolutely no health issues. And, we would donate marrow without any hesitation.
Thanks, Mikeo. That's too bad. I'm 61 and perfectly healthy like you and your wife.
Posted twice, sorry!
Very cool! Great rewards, and even greater satisfaction knowing he saved the life of an innocent child that may grow up to be who knows, the first person on Mars maybe? Job well done!!!
What a heart warming story. I hope little Jacob weathers this storm and I commend Mr. Davis for this unselfish act. I hope everyone who reads this, will sign up for the donor program. I, for one, will definitely check into it and sign up if they'll have me.
crested gecko...I echo your actions...what a wonderful story and such a simple action to possible help another fellow human!
Jacob, you are a brave little guy...I too had a stem cell transplant, in 2007...but I am an older lady and I now am cancer free....no more Leukemia. You stay tough and trust God;,He will bring you through this....God Blee you and your family
If His will is to not heal someone, but to take them home, it is His will.
A wonderful story. I hope that Jacob's family has decent insurance - so many people in our country would not be able to afford such health care (myself included).
I, too, had a stem cell transplant, for ALL, at the ripe old age of 54...lucky for me, my oldest sister was a near perfect match and we did not have to depend on outside donors. That was my blessing and being Leukemia free today is the best blessing of all. Please folks, if you are able and want to do something for mankind, be a donor! Whether it's blood, bone marrow, whatever...there will always be someone like myself and Jacob who needs you. God Bless
Anita, I am really so happy for you. That's wonderful, really. It's inspiring. I am certainly going to look into being a donor myself.
Jacob, take care little lad. Stay with us for a long time to come.
www.giftoflife.org
I too had a bone marrow transplant in 2008. Thanks to generous people who put themselves on the register, many lives ar saved, but more are needed. My donor was a perfect match, from Australia, which was coincidental because that is where my husband is from! I thank my donor everyday in my heart. Donors are true Angels.
Thank you Marshal for your generous gift! 21 years ago tomorrow, a complete stranger donated their bone marrow and saved my life. I was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, and being a minority, it was especially difficult to find a perfect match. I urge everyone to join the National Marrow Donor Program, or some worldwide registry. I was never able to meet my donor, but deep down inside, I thank them each and every day.
I have two friends here in Houston who are enjoying similar results from their stem cell transplants. Thank God, and his children, the donors! Dan Kelly
Great work Gator. A great example for athletes from every sport. Go Gator.
What a great gift to give and receive. Why don't more people post to congratulate rather when they just have to pick someone else apart?
So heartwarming.
I was, at 25 years old, the recepient of a donor related transplant 11 years ago. My donor chose to remain anonymous, which I respect. But I wish I had just one chance, beyond the letter I sent, to thank that person for saving my life too.
THANK YOU DONORS!!!
Chad, I have never donated bone marrow, but do donate other things such as whole blood, platelets and plasma on a regular basis that goes to the local children's hospital (CMV-). I could never handle the emotional involvement.
Beautiful story! Thanks -- that single word seems so inadequate-- to Mr. Davis for this unselfish act that inspired me and moved me emotionally. Though I am not a candidate to be a donor (though I would if I could), I am in awe of Mr. Davis's unselfish act that saved a young boy's life. Truly awesome!
This is the definition of being a hero!
Yes, a single cheek swab can and will make a life saving a reality.This must be shared with minority communities until it becomes more common amongst all peoples. There is a great need within Asian, Hispanic, and Black communities. Not enough reach out with comprehension.
Please share this information with friends, neighbors, etc.
Thanks
I am African American and I have been a registered donor for over 10 years.
Our son had cancer 3 separate xs 2nd time needed a BMT father and younger bro perfect match our son with the cancer healed by BMT but HE RECEIVED BIG TIME RADIATION optic nerve leukemia... ended with a brain tumor. Matthew is now completely healed not physically BUT spiritually by receiving Jesus as his Lord and Savoir Absent from the body present w the Lord.... I look every day to Jesus Christ return to bow to the One who paid it all... if you dont' know Him...Today is the day of your Salvation...888NEEDHIM John 14 vs 6 look it up...
Our 13 yr old daughter is a 1 year survivor of an allogeneic stem cell transplant for AML (leukemia) using umbilical cord stem cells. She had zero adult matches and only two cord blood possibilities - neither perfect matches. If you're considering having a baby I urge you to donate your cord - it is rich in stem cells and discarded otherwise. Because cord donations are anonomous we'll never know the little boy, now 18 months old, who gave our daughter her life back but I thank his mom daily in my heart.
When my son was born 14 years ago, I had several agencies contact me about preserving the cord in case we needed it (for a fee of course.) I told them I wasn't going to preserve it but would like to donate it. They said they couldn't help me with that. I asked the hospital at the time and they said they weren't in a position to do that either. Same thing happened with my daughter two years later. I really hope more organizations and hospitals are working to make this happen. I'm glad it worked for your daughter!