In December of 2011, at age 68, Ed underwent an unrelated cord blood transplant to treat acute myelogenous leukemia, a life-threatening blood cancer. Transplant is a rigorous treatment that requires a lengthy hospital stay and months to years of recovery. As a survivor of this intensely difficult treatment, he has dedicated much of his life to helping others going through the same process.
Ed’s wife Kate was his primary caregiver and a huge part of his transplant and recovery. She has stood by his side throughout this journey, and has also dedicated much of her time to advocating for Be The Match with Ed. “Our oldest grandchild was 6 years old and the youngest was just 9 months when I had my transplant,” says Ed. “I’ve been able watch them grow up and they’ve had the chance to know their grandfather as a person, not a picture.” Many of Ed’s experiences with transplant, recovery, and advocacy have been a family effort.
Ed is part of the Be The Match peer-to-peer counseling program for transplant patients, helps edit educational and support material, and was on the Leadership Council for several years, helping with legislative advocacy, donor recruitment and tabling events. He speaks to other patients who are anticipating transplant about his own experience and helps ease their fears, answer their questions and provide the kind of encouragement that only a transplant recipient can give. Kate has also spoken at these events from a caregiver perspective. He meets with social workers and other staff members to ensure that they know how best to support patients going through the same treatment that he did.
It is difficult to explain the impact that Ed makes on the patients who look to him for support, except to say that in this volunteer role he uses himself and his experience with transplant to connect with people who desperately need support.
Ed says his transplant has given him the gift of life and the gift of time. And he’s making the most of it. In addition to spending time with family, he is very active in his church and has volunteered more than 400 hours with Be The Match, connecting with patients, transplant centers and legislators. He and his wife have been very generous with financial gifts to Be The Match as well, as they understand that supporting patient assistance, recruitment and research is so important. “After my transplant, I’m more aware of the issues which people [like me] can face, and I’m trying to give back,” Ed says.
We need more people to make an impact like Ed, and support patients like him. You could make an impact by signing up for a monthly gift. A reliable monthly gift will help more patients receive marrow transplants, expand the Be The Match Registry ®, and provide financial resources to patients and families in need Join us in our life-saving mission and give a monthly gift today.
