Bone marrow recipient meets donor who saved his life

BOCA RATON (CBS12) — Imagine meeting for the very first person the person who saved your life.

That is exactly what happened this evening at the Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center, when a bone marrow transplant donor and the young recipient met for the first time.

It’s a moment he’s been waiting for all his life. A moment of pure joy as

12 year old Arius Blaser and his family meet the woman whose bone marrow donation saved his life.

“He started crying and I started crying,” said Donor Rachel Amar.

Blaser and his family travelled from Milan, Illinois to thank Rachel Amar from New York City face to face.

“He made me this little picture which is really sweet,” said Amar. “You can tell he really appreciated it.”

About a week into his life, Blaser quit breathing. Doctors later determined he had Chronic Granulomatous Disease, a rare immune disorder. For the first 10 years of his life Blaser battled the disease in and out of the hospital. He underwent nearly 10 ten surgery’s and numerus treatments including chemo. His life forever changed when Rachel’s donation made through the Gift of Life bone marrow Registry, was deemed a perfect match for Blaser. One of only 5 possible matches.

“About two years ago, I got a call from Gift of Life saying I was a match,” said Amar. :I gave bone marrow twice. Once through the bone marrow procedure and one through a stem cell procedure.”

Amar says she swabbed for the Gift of Life donor registry during a trip to Israel. She had no idea giving a cheek swab would later help save a child’s life.

“I didn’t think it was such a big deal at first but after meeting him I said wow this is such a huge thing,” said Amar. “A little thing like that could save a life and I saved a little boy’s life.”

Gift of Life is a national, public not-for-profit registry whose national headquarters is located in Boca Raton. For more information on how you can donate visit https://www.giftoflife.org/page/content/donorresources