Jean's Life-Changing Gift: From Average Joe to Stem Cell Hero

Being a stem cell match is incredibly rare – with the odds of finding a match about 1 in 100 000. "It’s an incredible feeling knowing you have the chance to save someone’s life," he says. "I knew this was something I had to do."

For Jean, the method used to extract his stem cells was the peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation process, his stem cells are collected through the bloodstream. "It's similar to giving blood. They insert a needle in one arm to collect the blood, which passes through a machine that separates the stem cells. Then, the blood is returned through the other arm. It’s painless, and you’re awake throughout the whole thing."

Once the stem cells are harvested, they are carefully transported to the hospital where the patient is waiting for their second chance at life. The stem cells are infused into the patient’s bloodstream, where they begin to travel to the bone marrow. Over time, the stem cells start producing healthy blood cells, giving the patient a fresh start and, in many cases, a new chance at life.

Jean remembers the moment he looked at his stem cells in the bag: "It was like holding literal life in your hands. You can’t describe it. It was humbling and overwhelming. I realized how something so small could mean everything to someone else."

Jean encourages anyone considering it to take the leap. "Just do it! If you’ve ever thought about becoming a donor, now is the time. You won’t regret it."

Reflecting on his donation, Jean adds, "We often don’t realize how blessed we are with our health until we give a piece of it to someone else. It was humbling to be part of something so meaningful."

Jean's message is simple but powerful: "Don’t wait. Register to be a stem cell donor – you could be the one to save a life."