A Nebraska woman’s life was saved by a bone marrow donor from thousands of miles away. Regina Palmer, a survivor of aplastic anemia, received a life-saving transplant from Akim Kraa, a banker in Germany. The two, once strangers, have now formed a deep bond through his selfless act of donation.
Palmer was first diagnosed with the rare and serious blood disorder in 2008. At the time, doctors recommended a family donor, but none of her siblings were a match. A decade later, in 2018, her condition worsened, and she required an urgent bone marrow transplant. A search of the U.S. national bone marrow registry yielded no matches, forcing doctors to look internationally. Out of three potential donors, the first two were not compatible, leaving Kraa as her last hope. His donation saved her life.
After the transplant, Palmer was eventually able to contact her donor. Their connection deepened when she and her family traveled to Germany to meet Kraa and his loved ones in person. Their meeting was emotional, symbolizing not only a medical match but the formation of a new family bond.
The National Marrow Donor Program, formerly known as Be the Match, facilitates bone marrow donations. Potential donors can join the registry by requesting a free kit and swabbing the inside of their cheek. The program prioritizes donors between 18 and 44, as younger donors typically lead to more successful transplants.
