"I am here because of you!" This sentence was uttered over and over again at the moving meeting between bone marrow donors and recipients.

Eight donor-recipient couples met for the first time at an emotional, festive event, hosted by Ezer Mizion whose Bone Marrow Donor Registry facilitated the lifesaving transplants.

The meeting of the recipients with the bone marrow donors whose healthy stem cells were transplanted into their blood streams was a thanksgiving celebration, marking their victory over the cancer that threatened their lives. 

Since its establishment, the Bone Marrow Donor Registry has facilitated 295 transplants, 134 of them since January 2006!  The Registry currently includes 305,410 potential donors.

"He saved my life," said Shlomo, one of the recipients, referring to his donor, Michel.  "Everything is from G-d," responded Michel modestly.  "I am only a messenger. The greatest gift that I received was that the One Above gave me the privilege of giving."  

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Meet the Donors and Recipients
Profiles of the eight stem cell donors and the recipients whose lives they saved

Bruno , a 20 year-old soldier, donated his lifesaving stem cells to Helena , 45, a Russian immigrant and mother of an 18- year-old daughter.

Shiri , a 20 year-old soldier, donated her lifesaving stem cells to Mordechai , a precious one year old who is learning to walk.

Michel , 44, a handyman, donated his lifesaving stem cells to Shlomo , 39, a silversmith and father of a 20 month-old son.

Hadas , 33, mother of a two and a half year old daughter donated her stem cells to Gidon , 39, an electrician and father of 2.

Gadi , 33, a career military man who is married with one child donated his stem cells to save the life of three year old Efrat .

Keren , 33, a lawyer and mother of two, donated her stem cells to save the life of Efrat , 33, mother of two and formerly a graphic artist.

Shlomo , 53, Israel Electric company employee donated his stem cells to save 45 year old Russian immigrant Ella , mother of two.

Levi , 29, worked in a hostel for at-risk children and now studying for his MA in social work in Arizona, donated his stem cells to save the life of 10 year old Sahar who happily returned to school following her recovery.

Related Link
International Bone Marrow Donor Registry