Kelly’s story: Why I joined

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I’ll never forget the moment I found out my dad had leukemia. I got home from work and my parents were sitting there crying, promising everything would be okay. The way I felt at that moment was surreal — I literally felt like the world slipped out from under me. It was like one day his life was normal and the next he was lying in a hospital room fighting for his life.

The following months were very hard, but it was worth it — within a few months my dad was in remission. Dad says that he wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for his “team”. He claims his team is like the Verizon commercial — a lot of people standing there for a different purpose, but most of them are faceless. Of course his oncologist is in the front, along with the nurses, my mom (who was the most amazing caregiver in the world), and everyone who sent cards or told stories of survivors.

The faceless people are the ones who matter just as much, according to dad. Those are the people who donated to the Cancer Society, the people who have spent years searching for a cure, the people who have researched medicine to ensure that my dad wasn’t getting sick from his chemo, and the people who donated blood and plasma. (I never realized how critical it was to donate blood and plasma until the doctors told my dad they didn’t have any).

Being a member of the team
Two years ago, I almost lost my dad — but thanks to the kindness of so many faceless people who will never know the impact they had, he’s still around. And although he hasn’t yet needed a marrow transplant, I’ve dedicated my life to being a faceless supporter to everyone fighting cancer and other diseases. I’m a proud blood/plasma/bone marrow/organ donor for future dads, moms, brothers, sisters, neighbors, best friends, grandparents — anyone. I’m a proud faceless “team” member, just taking a few hours out of my life to save a life or two. No big deal, right? Invisibly standing there with them when the floor falls from under them, ready to make a difference.

Bottom line — you have no idea when this will happen to you, what moment will change your life. You can sit around and wait, or you can start making a difference today. You may never know whose “team” you’re on, you may never be thanked, but you will always know that you were a member of a team — and maybe someday, you’ll depend on a team, too.

In the picture: Kelly with her father. Kelly is a member of the Be The Match Registry.