May 7, 2026
A simple cheek swab. A stranger’s decision to say “yes.”
That choice gave our family another year with Luke.
Two years ago today, Lincoln sat down to have his blood drawn to see if he could help save his little brother’s life.
At the time, Luke was preparing for a bone marrow transplant, and our family was searching for the person who might give him a chance
While Lincoln ultimately was not a match, someone else was.
Because a stranger had joined the NMDP registry, Luke was able to receive a bone marrow transplant. That transplant did not give us the ending we prayed for, but it did give us something priceless: More time. Another year of memories. Another year of laughter. Another year of hearing Luke’s voice, watching him play, and loving him here with us.
That gift means more to us than words could ever express.
Today, we want to encourage others to consider joining the NMDP registry. They generally look for donors ages 18–35, and the process is completely free. They mail you a cheek swab kit; you swab your cheek at home and mail it back.
You never know whose life you could change.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to the donor who gave our family that chance, and thank you to everyone who chooses to register and help others.
❤️🎗🦖
If you would like to learn more or join the registry through NMDP, you can visit: https://www.nmdp.org/