UCLA School of Nursing student celebrated as she makes 2000th donation at the Adelson Collection Center

This article was originally published by Gift of Life

Natalie never expected to match a patient in need, but when the Gift of Life Marrow Registry gave a presentation at her sorority, Kappa Delta at the University of California, Los Angeles, in November 2022, she felt a spark of possibility.

“I actually hadn’t heard of Gift of Life before swabbing, but the two women who organized the drive at my sorority did a great job of explaining the importance of volunteering to be tested,” said Natalie. “I thought if I could be there for someone, why not join? I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

Just seven months later, Natalie received a voicemail from Gift of Life telling her she was potentially a match for a woman diagnosed with leukemia.

“I had just woken up and remember thinking, ‘Am I still dreaming?’” said Natalie. “I never in a million years thought I would be someone’s match, but I immediately felt so honored to potentially be a part of someone’s story.”

With full support from her parents and professors, Natalie prepared to donate stem cells to help save a woman’s life.

“As soon as I got the call from Gift of Life, I immediately called my parents, who were thrilled,” said Natalie. “Since I am in nursing school, all my professors were 100% supportive of my needing time off from classes to donate – they understood how important it was. I was taking my maternity and pediatric classes in the summer of 2024, and I had to fly from Los Angeles to Florida to donate at Gift of Life’s collection center.”

On the day of her donation, Natalie learned she was the 2,000th donor at the Adelson Collection Center in Gift of Life’s headquarters, which opened in late 2019. The staff celebrated this milestone with her, making her day unforgettable. 

“The whole day felt like a party,” said Natalie. “I was well taken care of, and the donation process was just amazing. The actual procedure itself is super easy. It took seven hours, and I was comfortable the entire time. I got to bring my dad with me, and it was an experience we’ll never forget. We’re both seafood lovers and had a great time exploring and eating at restaurants in Boca Raton, and we even got to tour the Everglades.”

Natalie is also pleased with the reaction of her fellow nursing students and friends to her donation.

“Many of them were fascinated by my experience, and coincidentally, the lecture in nursing class the day before my flight to Florida was on stem cell and bone marrow donation,” she said. “My peers got to learn more about what I was doing – it was perfect timing!”

Despite the attention she received as the 2,000th donor, Natalie’s focus remains on her recipient and the hope of her full recovery.

“I would absolutely love to meet my recipient,” she said. “Whether it’s in person or long distance, I would love to learn more about her and her story.”

Her experience has also influenced her career aspirations.

“I learned so much about the transplant process and the impact of donating, I decided to apply for post-graduation work as a nurse on a stem cell transplant floor,” said Natalie. “The process of donating is truly so much easier than most people think. The opportunity to give someone a second chance at life is truly invaluable. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Natalie, a senior in the nursing school at UCLA, is a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. In her free time, she enjoys trying new coffee shops, spending time with family and friends, listening to podcasts and going on walks.