Fourth-grader Meets Lifesaving Marrow Donor During Nashville Predators Hockey Fights Cancer Night
Heartwarming Reunion Organized by Gift of Life Marrow Registry During Game
at Bridgestone Arena on April 4.
- Nashville, TN (1888PressRelease) April 10, 2024 - In a heartwarming reunion that took place during the Nashville Predators’ Hockey Fights Cancer night, 11-year-old Acute Myeloid Leukemia survivor, Chloe Cochran, met the incredible stranger whose marrow donation saved her life. The pair were introduced at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on April 4, thanks to Gift of Life Marrow Registry.
Cochran was diagnosed with leukemia at just seven years old years old, after a series of symptoms that include frequent headaches, throwing up, fatigue, loss of appetite, constant bruises and tiny red and brown spots all over her body. A trip to the doctor led to a referral to the children's hospital, where her family’s worst fears were confirmed.
“Chloe thought she was going to die as soon as she heard the word cancer,” said her mother, Sheena Cochran. “I tried to stay strong and tell her everything was going to be ok, even though I didn’t know if they would. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me.”
When Cochran’s family learned that she needed a marrow transplant to survive, her older brother wished to be the one to help his sister. However, no one in the family proved to be a suitable match for her so they prayed that a donor, a total stranger, would be found.
Fortunately for Cochran, her donor Piper Cuevas had joined Gift of Life’s registry in 2018 at a recruitment event while attending the University of Texas. The 28-year-old physics student from Dallas acted without hesitation when she received the call from Gift of Life that she matched a patient in need.
Recalling what prompted her to donate, Cuevas had Cochran and her family firmly in mind. “I imagine they felt a sense of relief, knowing that there was a chance at a happy ending,” she said. “At the same time, they might have been fearful of the illusion of hope. It may have been a little scary, relying on a stranger who could turn down the opportunity or bail out at almost any step of the way.”
Due to U.S. medical privacy laws, donors and recipients had to wait at least one year before learning the identity of their matches. Amidst the roar of the cheering hockey crowd, Cuevas warmly embraced Cochran and her family. The group looks forward to beginning their journey of getting to know each other.
“I was so excited to be given the opportunity to do something right and to have the opportunity to help someone in their time of need,” said Cuevas.
During the game, fans had the opportunity to join the registry by swabbing at Gift of Life’s donor recruitment drive inside the arena. Gift of Life Campus Ambassadors from Vanderbilt University raised awareness on how easy it is to save the life of a child or adult battling blood cancer. Anyone 18 to 35 and in general good health can join the registry with a simple cheek swab and a short questionnaire.
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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