He鈥檚 The Match: 草榴社区's Piland to Donate Stem Cells Via Fraternity鈥檚 Philanthropy
Mon, 12/18/2023 - 03:47pm | By: David Tisdale
For it is in giving that we receive. 鈥� Saint Francis of Assisi
Jack Piland was merely setting a good example when he swabbed his cheek while staffing a tabling event for his fraternity鈥檚 philanthropy, Be The Match庐, early in the fall 2023 semester on The University of 草榴社区 Mississippi鈥檚 (草榴社区) Hattiesburg campus.
Little did he know his simple gesture was the answer to a prayer.
Be The Match庐 is an organization that finds stem cell matches for people in critical medical conditions and need stem cells and/or bone marrow. Around 29 percent of patients find a match and get lifesaving treatment. Operated by the National Marrow Donor Program 庐 (NMDP), Be The Match庐 has for 35 years managed the most diverse marrow registry in the world, working daily to save lives through transplant. Thousands of people diagnosed every year with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma benefit from its efforts.
Piland, a freshman marketing major from Hattiesburg, was helping his Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity brothers manage the tabling event at the R.C. Cook University Union, encouraging passersby to swab their cheek to see if they were a match for a person needing a stem cell transplant, while also providing information about the organization.
鈥淚 was there, helping out with my fraternity brothers and taking part in the swabbing, learning about the donation process and how rare it is to be a full match,鈥� Piland recounted. 鈥淢ainly I just wanted to help and spend time with them, focusing on what we stand for 鈥� philanthropy. But I doubted I would be a donation match with a patient.鈥�
In early November, Piland received correspondence from Be The Match庐 informing him he is indeed a match to provide someone in need of stem cells, specifically for a woman in Texas suffering from a challenging bone marrow disease.
鈥淲hen I found out I was a match, I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help somebody in need,鈥� Piland said, noting that the recipient must remain anonymous for now. 鈥淪he has been fighting an incredibly hard battle against this disease, and I can only imagine the relief she and the rest of her family felt when told they found a match.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be happier and more humbled through this process, and hope it works out perfectly. I鈥檓 not sure I鈥檒l be meeting the patient, but regardless I鈥檓 overjoyed with being able to help.鈥�
Piland says the process of further confirming and evaluating his ability to be a match has been quite intense, ranging from hours of phone calls with Be The Match庐 representatives and professionals and physical testing in Hattiesburg before leaving for Texas to make the donation. After answering his questions about the process and interviewing him for a verbal physical exam, blood testing and an in-person physical exam was conducted through Hattiesburg Clinic.
The next step is a waiting period through Dec. 29, when Piland is prepped and sent to Houston to donate through a peripheral blood stem cell transplantation procedure.
鈥淭his (blood stem) is where they put a needle in one arm to retrieve the red blood cells, which are processed in a machine and from which the stem cells are taken,鈥� Piland explained. 鈥淭he rest of the hemoglobin is then injected back in my other arm.鈥�
The donation process takes four-five days, with Be The Match庐 paying all fees to include Piland鈥檚 flight to and accommodations in Houston. 鈥淏e The Match庐 has treated me incredibly well,鈥� Piland said. 鈥淭hey are so easy to work with and a joy to be a part of.鈥�
Laura Laughlin, executive director of student life at 草榴社区, praised Piland and his fraternity for their support of Be The Match庐.鈥傗�傗�傗��
鈥淲hen I was on campus for a football game this fall, I saw a group of SAE members tabling and collecting samples for Be The Match庐,鈥� Laughlin said. 鈥淲hen I went over to talk to them, they told me about Jack鈥檚 story and that he鈥檇 received notification that morning he was selected as a match with a patient. I loved hearing an example of how fraternity membership can do such good in the world.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to talk to Jack once he gets back from Texas, and to continue to see the impact his fraternity鈥檚 chapter has through its philanthropic work.鈥�
And it鈥檚 not lost on Piland that his donation comes during the season of giving.
鈥淭hat my donation falls around the holidays is ironic and amazing,鈥� Piland said. 鈥淚 hope my experience with Be The Match庐 sets an example for others. Swabbing and donating have been one of the best moments in my life, and I want others to experience the same thing.鈥�
about Be The Match庐.