Vision Of A Volunteer – Vanessa

Volunteering with AADP greatly benefits patients in need of a match. In turn, working with patients touches the lives of volunteers. To highlight this, we are starting a series of volunteer stories, Vision of A Volunteer, where our hardworking helpers have a chance to share how volunteering with AADP has impacted them.

Vanessa

I first volunteered for AADP when it was brought to me by a student organization at SF State. I went in thinking that I would get to help bring more awareness about a disease, but I haven’t really heard of bone marrow donors before. I didn’t think that it would matter because I would be told what to do and how to do it. I had arrived at the table thinking it was easy: tell people about it, have them fill out a form, and do a cheek swab. As I went throughout the day telling people about the program and how they could save someone’s life, I found myself being more passionate about the awareness than I had initially planned. I learned about blood cancers, how the donor program works, and even how bone marrow donation can help save millions of lives by just one person. I felt so inspired that I didn’t want to tell people to become donors unless I was one myself. I picked up a form and started filling it out all while thinking “Wow! I can be a THE match, someone is waiting out there.” I have been registered as a donor, ready to be a match for a year now and hope to save a life soon.

Please Follow Us!