Doug Sporn

Being a bone marrow donor is a gift - a gift of a very rare opportunity to save another person's life. I feel very fortunate that my marrow was a perfect match to that 12 year old Italian child who would have no chance to grow up if he was unable to have a bone marrow transplant.

Meeting the young boy, Pierluigi, and his family in Italy was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was a very exciting and emotional experience to be with the extended family and to see how healthy and normal Pierluigi looked.

In particular I will always remember leaving their hometown to return to the United States. Before boarding our plane Pierluigi's father who spoke very little English hugged me and said over and over and over, "Thank you, Doug."

Annie Kraft Barsky

Being a bone marrow donor has made a profound difference in my life. It has allowed me the opportunity to give back to the community a precious gift, the gift of life. I feel lucky to have had the chance to help another human being and his family in such an exceptional way.

As a home and hospital teacher, I have worked with three students who received bone marrow transplants. I have viewed both sides of the process. I know the desperation and hope families feel, and I know how grateful they are to locate a donor. I also know how incredible I feel every day when I contemplate my donation. This experience has put the minor challenges in my life into perspective.

Morton H. Mindell

When I first heard of the effort organized by the family and friends of Allison Atlas for the purpose of enrolling vast numbers of potential donors into the National Marrow Registry, I thought that this was a cause which could not be ignored. Attending a session at a Baltimore synagogue, I gladly donated a small amount of blood and listened to the potential implications which would come of this registration.

Aware of the odds of matching an unrelated donor, I had no expectations of ever being called again, but only hoped that a match would be found for Allison.

It was to my great surprise that sometime later I was called by the Red Cross and informed that, in fact, I was a preliminary match to an unknown potential recipient. I was asked if I was willing to take further tests and proceed with the commitment. I felt as though I had won the lottery. The additional tests indicated a successful match and I was on my way to one of the greatest experiences of my life. It has now been over seven years since my marrow harvest and I am happy to report that my recipient no longer has the Leukemia for which she had been treated.

For us, countless donors and recipients, we have Allison to thank. What a proud legacy. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely - as often as possible.

friends of allison PO Box 34497 W Bethesda MD 20827 ph/fax 301-315-2050

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