HER GENEROUS GIFT FOR CAROLINE KOHL’S. A CALL TO HELP OTHERS IS SOMETHING SHE’S ALWAYS FELT IN HER BONES. I ALWAYS KNEW I WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE AND I WORKED AS A CNA THROUGHOUT SOME OF HIGH SCHOOL, AND I JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. BUT THE GRADUATING NURSING STUDENT AT MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY NEVER THOUGHT HER ACTUAL BONES WOULD HELP SOMEONE IN NEED. IN FEBRUARY, I GOT A PHONE CALL SAYING THAT I WAS THE MATCH TO SOMEBODY. CAROLINE WAS A BONE MARROW MATCH FOR A STRANGER WITH BLOOD CANCER, IN DESPERATE NEED OF HER STEM CELLS. A LOT OF PEOPLE’S ONLY OPTION IS A BONE MARROW OR STEM CELL TRANSPLANT TO HELP FIND A POTENTIAL CURE OR TREATMENT. SO I THINK THAT’S REALLY WHAT GOT IT FOR ME. JUST KNOWING THAT I COULD POTENTIALLY HELP SOMEBODY DOESN’T MATTER THAT I DON’T KNOW THEM. IT’S JUST IT’S A GOOD THING TO DO. FOR FIVE DAYS BEFORE HER MARCH DONATION, CAROLINE INJECTED HERSELF WITH A BONE MARROW STIMULANT TO INCREASE HER STEM CELLS AND THEN SPENT A DAY AT THE HOSPITAL. IT IS A COMMITMENT FOR SURE, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY HELP SAVE SOMEBODY’S LIFE IS MUCH GREATER THAN ANY COMMITMENT I COULD MAKE. THIS WHOLE PROCESS PUT CAROLINE IN THE ROLE OF PATIENT, A PERSPECTIVE SHE’LL TAKE WITH HER WHEN SHE STARTS FULL TIME NURSING WORK AT ASCENSION COLUMBIA SAINT MARY’S HOSPITAL AFTER GRADUATION. THE NURSES WERE WONDERFUL. GIVES ME A GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THAT, BUT ALSO JUST LIKE COMPASSION FOR MY PATIENTS AND WHAT THEY’RE GOING THROUGH, CAROLINE IS NOW ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO SIGN UP FOR THE REGISTRY. IT’S A GREAT THING TO DO, AND I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO JOIN AT MARQUETT