Blood Disease Survivor Meets Life-saving Marrow Donor
At Boston Red Sox Game
Emotional Reunion Took Place at Fenway Park in Support of Gift of Life Marrow Registry’s Mission to Cure Blood Cancer.
- Boston, MA-NH (1888PressRelease) April 25, 2025 - During a special moment at yesterday’s Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park, two young women who share an extraordinary connection met for the first time. Kayce Moose, a 24-year old from Dallas, N.C., who received a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with two blood disorders, came face-to-face with the donor who helped save her life.
The event was hosted in support of Gift of Life Marrow Registry and featured a swab drive to encourage new donor registrations. Now in its third year, the partnership between the team and Gift of Life continues to create unforgettable moments by uniting donors and recipients.
Moose’s journey began in February 2023 when she noticed persistent bruises that lingered for months, endured a high fever lasting more than a week and started having difficulty with everyday physical activities. Concerned, she visited her doctor, which led to her first diagnosis: Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH). While undergoing treatment, she was later diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a rare and serious condition in which the body stops producing enough new blood cells.
After enduring numerous medications and blood transfusions, Moose broke down at the thought of being sick for the rest of her life.
“I only cried a couple of times, but one of them was when I found out I needed a bone marrow transplant,” said Moose. “The idea of losing my hair from chemo scared me more than anything.”
With no siblings and her father unable to donate, doctors turned to the registry for a match and quickly found a donor in the Gift of Life registry. That donor was Leah McNeil, a 27-year-old from Somerville, Mass. She joined the registry while attending Brandeis University, in honor of her sister who passed away from osteosarcoma before she was born. When she got the call that she was a match, she didn’t hesitate.
“The opportunity to donate to Kayce is one of the most meaningful experiences of my life,” said McNeil. “It gives me great joy to know that she is doing well and that there are so many people working to help others. I feel so grateful to have been a part of the process. It was truly a humbling and life-affirming experience for me.”
After the required wait time of at least one year that is obligated by medical anonymity laws, the long-awaited meeting between McNeil and Moose was met with cheers and applause from the baseball crowd.
I’m very grateful for [McNeil] in every way possible,” said Moose. “She took the time to register and become a donor to someone who needed it and I can’t thank her enough for helping me.”
“I would encourage everyone who is able to join the donor registry,” said McNeil. “It’s so easy to do, and you could make a massive difference in someone’s life.”
To join the Gift of Life registry, donors simply swab the inside of their cheeks and complete a registration questionnaire. Those aged 18 to 35 years old who are in good health (the ideal demographic for successful transplants) are especially urged to sign up by visiting giftoflife.org/Swab.
About Gift of Life Marrow Registry
Gift of Life Marrow Registry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla. The organization, established in 1991, is dedicated to saving lives by facilitating blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood-related diseases. The registry houses its own state-of-the-art stem cell collection center, biobank, and laboratory. To learn more about Gift of Life Marrow Registry, visit www.giftoflife.org.
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