Jeremiah Craft, the nephew of “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts, recently donated his bone marrow to save a stranger’s life. Craft’s mother, Sally-Ann Roberts, had previously donated stem cells for Robin’s lifesaving transplant in 2012. Despite declining the opportunity to donate when he was initially matched with a stranger, Craft received a second chance and decided to go through with the donation. Craft underwent five days of injections to prepare for the donation and traveled from New York City to Houston in March to complete the procedure. The non-surgical procedure, known as peripheral blood stem cell donation, took five hours to complete.
The journey of the Roberts sisters is a unique one, as 70% of patients in need of a bone marrow transplant do not have a fully-matched donor in their family. Craft’s decision to donate his bone marrow highlights the importance of signing up for the bone marrow registry, which involves a simple cheek swab to determine compatibility. Craft’s travel expenses, as well as non-medical costs, were covered by the non-profit organization National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). NMDP also pays for medical expenses not covered by insurance. Craft’s selfless act emphasizes the impact that individuals can have by becoming bone marrow donors and potentially saving lives.
The NMDP manages a global marrow registry, and the majority of patients rely on donations from strangers. Less than half of potential donors who are found to be a match agree to donate, often due to personal reasons. Craft’s decision to donate despite his initial hesitation showcases the power of empathy and altruism. Craft expressed gratitude for the opportunity to save a life and emphasized the importance of doing the right thing, learning from his past and making a difference in the world. The article encourages readers to consider becoming bone marrow donors by signing up on the NMDP website or requesting a swab kit via text.
