LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Billy Klein was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer, four years ago.
He hoped Kentuckiana would help by signing up to be a bone marrow donor.
His efforts have since helped save another life.
As a nurse, Taylor Alvey is trained and accustomed to being on her feet helping people. What she's not accustomed to is being the one in the chair.
July 2023, she was gathered around the nurse's station watching our story about a patient on the floor. Billy Klein wasn't her patient but his story inspired her and other UofL nurses to sign up for the bone marrow donation registry.
"I was working and I got an email. I did not believe it at first," Taylor said. "I was like, am I reading this right?"
Taylor was a match. Not for Billy, but for another patient in Texas.
"Never in a million years did I think this would happen," Taylor said.
Taylor Alvey is a nurse, used to being on her feet and helping people. What she's not accustomed to is being the one in the chair. (WDRB Photo) June 24, 2024
Eight months after sending off her cheek swab she now had the opportunity to save a life with her own cells.
She learned exactly what the donation process would mean: injections, lab tests, questionnaires, travel and the donation process.
"A lot of lab pokes and draws, but it was ok," Taylor said.
According to the National Marrow Donor Program, formerly "Be the Match," about 50 percent of the time a matched donor won't go through with the donation process.
Taylor said it wasn’t even a question.
"We've had patients before that've backed out, their donors have backed out, and I just couldn't imagine you know, not doing it," Taylor said.
A month of tests and the doctor in Texas approved Taylor as the perfect match.
Two months later she was self-administering injections to stimulate the bone marrow to create more stem cells. She and her mother were flown to Texas with all expenses paid so nurses could collect those cells.
Now, Taylor was the one in the chair.
"I started to feel some relief from them actually taking those extra stem cells out. But not being able to move was rough… I've seen every step of it," Taylor said.
"We obviously never see the person that is helping them get through this process. So just to be that person for this patient is a very surreal and crazy, crazy experience," Taylor said.
Taylor won't be allowed to contact the patient for a year but within days of donating her cells, she returned to her patients.
"See, since you're a lifesaver I got you some lifesavers," Billy said.
Billy is now doing great. His doctor believes through treatment, he no longer needs a donor for his leukemia.
Billy Klein was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer, four years ago. (WDRB Photo) June 24, 2024
"You signing up for me and being a match for someone within a year has got to be crazy odds," Billy said.
Patient and nurse, both using their health and energy to live for others.
"I didn’t know what my purpose was for a long time, and I feel like this is it," Billy said. "Trying to help people find matches and take a bigger purpose to sign up and be a match for someone to save their life."
"Ultimately, it's life changing. Truly," Taylor said.
One of the reasons it's so hard to find a match is because donors need to be between 18 and 40 years old. Research shows those cells create better outcomes for patients.
All you need to do to see if you're a match, is submit a simple cheek swab.
To join the registry, click here.
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