Lyndhurst Resident to Share Lifesaving Stem Cell Donation Journey
ORANGE VILLAGE, OH (WCTU) — For Marc Bakst, the concept of saving lives transformed from a distant notion to a personal mission when his brother Alan faced a life-threatening battle with leukemia. This harrowing experience led him to discover the power of stem cell donation, a journey he will share during a special Shabbat service at Temple Emanu El on April 5, 2024. Located at 4545 Brainard Road, Orange Village, the event aims to enlighten and inspire the community about the lifesaving potential everyone carries within. The service is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. and welcomes the public to participate free of charge.
A resident of Lyndhurst and a Beachwood native, Bakst's story began six years ago with a desperate call from Scottsdale, Arizona, where his older brother Alan was diagnosed with leukemia and in dire need of a stem cell transfusion. A simple DNA test identified Marc as a perfect match among his siblings, setting the stage for a transformative experience. "I am not the hero type," Bakst humbly reflects, "although I always knew it was a good idea to be an organ donor," he added. Although the kind of donation Bakst made took it a step further.
The procedure, as Bakst will detail in his upcoming talk, starts with a non-invasive DNA swab, leading to potential matches between donors and those in desperate need. The ease of the process and the profound impact it can have on both donor and recipient will be key points of his message. Bakst's narrative not only highlights the technical aspects of stem cell donation but also touches on the emotional and spiritual upliftment that accompanies such a generous act.
Reflecting on the journey, Bakst shares, "To my pleasant surprise, the whole process was nearly pain-free (for me), and although Alan went through a literal hell growing the new cells, he emerged a winner." Now considered a leukemia survivor after five years, Alan's story is a testament to the power of medical science and human compassion.
