I Gave My Stem Cells To Save a Life From Cancer And Now I …

Submitted by: Hannah Heinzig

Story Hero: Hannah

Location: Prague, Oklahoma, United States

RARE Condition: Pemphigus Vulgaris

My name is Hannah Heinzig, and I am 24 years old recently diagnosed with Pemphigus Vulgaris. This is how everyone starts out their story, so I will get those needed details out of the way. Now let me back track a few years.

I went to a small college called East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma to study nursing. My hopes and dreams were to be a missionary nurse overseas in third world countries helping provide healthcare to those who cannot afford it or have to access to good healthcare. As a college student I was very active on campus with international students and Christian campus organizations. I wanted to change the world by loving one human at a time.

As you know, local blood drives loveto use college campuses to request help. I loved the idea of being able to give blood and help save a life and gave on several occasions. One particular day at the blood drive there were representatives who were raising awareness for the National Bone Marrow Foundation. I listened all about the new research being done and how you can swab your cheek fill out the necessary paperwork and become a registered member as a possible candidate for either a bone marrow or stem cell donor for cancer patients needing healthy cells.

I was intrigued and of course was always willing to help save a life. Two years passed and I completely forgot about that day until I was in my junior year of nursing and we learned in class about stem cell and bone marrow donation from non familial relations for people with various cancers. The professor asked if anyone in the class had registered as a bone marrow or stem cell donor, I remembered two years ago that I had and realized I was the only one in my class of 75 students who was registered.

The more I learned about it the more I was excited to be a possible match for someone. I prayed that weekend that if God wanted me to be a healthy donor for someone, I was ready and willing. One week later I received a call from the Oklahoma Blood Institute saying I was a possible match for a 37 year old female with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. My heart began to pound as I remember my prayer one week prior.

I quickly jotted down the address and agreed to go in for further testing to assessme as a match. Long story short, I was the perfect match and had the privilege to give my healthy stem cells through a process called aphoreis. This process required me to receive subcutaneous injections of the drug, Neupogen for 5 days prior to giving my stem cells.

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I Gave My Stem Cells To Save a Life From Cancer And Now I ...