A aviator hastily navigated the airport terminals to shock an aged comrade: the lady who had spared his life.
It had been four long years since they last met in person. And nearly a decade since the compassionate biology student, on the darkest day of the year, bestowed upon the commercial airline pilot a gift that forever intertwined their fates.
Back then, United Airlines Captain David Whitson was grappling with a crushing prognosis: acute myeloid leukemia. Restoring his health required healthy blood, but even his brother's didn't sufficiently match.
That's when Allie, who had previously signed up for a bone marrow registry, received the call:
Would she be the one to save a stranger's life?
Ever since, Allie and David had reunited in person, connected on social media, and in gratitude for her life-saving donation, David added Allie to his United Airlines travel benefits, enabling her to fly like his own children or family members.
And so, it came to pass that David, fresh from piloting a flight from Dallas to Houston, received the alert: Allie was also in Houston, preparing to embark on Flight 2223, soon to take off.
But there were just 40 minutes left before the plane's departure, and David was located on the opposite side of the airport.
He reached out to the jet's captain, who accommodated his request to expedite Allie's boarding, and David raced to the gate.
An extraordinary illness and a desperate pursuit
David was barely 44 when he went from robust health to reliance on a ventilator.
When his chilly symptoms escalated into a fever, David sought medical assistance at an emergency room in August 2016. He alerted the doctor that "there was something seriously wrong," as pain plagued his left side and a lymph node swelled in his neck.
A CT scan and further tests confirmed a disheartening diagnosis a few days later.
Acute myeloid leukemia — a rare, swift-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow, stemming from malfunctioning blood stem cells, is predominantly afflicting older adults, as per Yale Medicine. Less than one-third of patients are predicted to survive at least five years following the diagnosis.
A doctor, following one chemotherapy treatment, informed David that his chances of survival were merely 5%, attributing his poor prognosis to a particularly warnings genetically defective mutation, as per David's recount.
"I couldn't even take five steps. I couldn't move. I could barely just move my legs," David recounted. "I couldn't sit up, I couldn't even get out of bed."
Given his formerly active lifestyle, David endeavored to set modest goals for himself, such as engaging in commercial flights or strolling to the restroom. He endeavored to stay optimistic, drawing support from faith and prayers.
His hopes faded when two additional rounds of chemotherapy failed to subdue the sickness.
However, with the suitable match, David's cancerous, Type B-positive blood could be replaced, potentially returning him to good health and granting him additional time with his loved ones.
Progress in acute myeloid leukemia treatment has significantly boosted remission rates, as per the National Cancer Institute. These days, most transplants employ stem cells from donor blood rather than bone marrow, a less labor-intensive process, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
But discovering a compatible donor can be challenging. Only about one-third of patients have a relative who can donate; for the rest, doctors search national and international donor registries, as per the Cleveland Clinic.
Donors and recipients are matched based on inherited genes called human leukocyte antigens, which serve as a guide for the immune system in differentiating self from non-self cells. Donors and recipients may have incompatible blood types, but that is not a problem in the match.
Siblings often make the best matches because they share the same genetic material.
But David's brother wasn't the ideal match.
So, his doctors ventured into the registries.
A stranger answers the call
Allie received the call.
Four years prior, as an 18-year-old undergraduate studying behavioral sciences at Purdue University, she had contributed to the organization of the Purdue University Dance Marathon to raise funds for a local children's hospital. During the 16-hour charity event, she had supplied a cheek swab to join the National Marrow Donor Program, a global nonprofit devoted to facilitating bone marrow and stem cell transplants for individuals suffering from life-threatening blood cancers.
Yearly, about 18,000 Americans are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, including leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease, and more than 70 other conditions that could potentially be treated through a marrow or blood cell transplant, as per the Health Resources and Services Administration. However, some patients will never find a match.
When Allie learned that her blood was a match for someone in need, she felt exhilarated. "I really wanted to be able to help someone in this type of way," she shared. "I believe that's also because of my interest in public health and my interest in medicine."
Yet, she had little information about the individual she was donating to. In the U.S., stem cell recipients must usually wait at least a year before meeting their donors, as per the National Marrow Donor Program.
Allie soon visited the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center in Houston, where she spent eight hours donating peripheral blood stem cells through apheresis, a non-invasive procedure that removes components from a donor's blood while returning the remaining blood to their body, as per the National Cancer Institute.
"You're a little sore, you're a little tired, but you get to go home that night, and it's really, really rewarding," she recalled.
On December 21, 2016 – as the winter solstice enveloped Texas in more than 14 hours of darkness – doctors at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas injected Allie's bone marrow stem cells into David's arm, as he narrated.
"The cells were comparable to seeds, and they were planted within my bones, growing her blood-like essence," he shared with CNN.
The treatment proved successful, as David transitioned from his Type B-positive blood to Type O-negative.
Despite the life-saving act, the donor remained a mystery to him.
'It's the least I could do'
Over a period of 18 months, David's health significantly improved, allowing him to resume his role as a United Airlines pilot. Simultaneously, Allie continued her education, focusing on strategies to encourage healthy choices and prevent diseases such as cancer.
The two individuals were eventually introduced by the donor program in March 2018. Ultimately, they met in August 2018 during an event organized by Baylor Medical Center. After a Q&A session for attendees, Allie and her family, as well as David and his family, enjoyed a meal together.
The experience left David filled with gratitude. "The thought of a stranger giving up their time to save my life is still overwhelming to me. It gives me hope."
"My blood now matches Allie's perfectly," David noted.
The pair would celebrate the anniversary of David's transplant each year. In 2018, Allie donated peripheral blood stem cells to another recipient, and she has also championed joining the bone marrow registry for others to consider.
As a small token of appreciation, David offered his travel privileges to Allie. "She saved my life," he said. "This is the least I can do."
Interactions between the two led to David surprising Allie at random airports. Now, at 30, Allie boasts a Ph.D. and a job as a cancer prevention public health researcher at the University of California, Davis. She emphasizes the importance of preventive health care, including regular doctor check-ups, stress management, and a balanced lifestyle.
"We both appreciate each other's quirky sense of humor," David shared. "We enjoy joking around and being playful with one another."
According to Allie, she frequently thinks of David when she flies, and they regularly communicate. "Every time I see him, he's always smiling," she said.
During Allie's recent trip to Houston, she had not seen David in over four years.
He knew she was there, however, and made it in time to join her on the plane.
Unfortunately, Allie was not in the mood for joviality.
'The true hero of this story'
Allie's mother had experienced a heart attack, she relayed. Much like David before his cancer diagnosis, she had been previously in good health with no indications of an underlying condition. Allie's professional background in cancer research made the situation even more personal to her.
Boarding began, and Allie secured her seat on the plane. Just as the aircraft's doors were about to close, Allie heard David's name over the PA system.
Surprised, Allie thought, "It only makes sense that he's here."
David shared his story with the passengers, including the accounts of how Allie saved his life, and then approached her seat.
"It's not every day you can embrace someone who has saved your life," he said. "Allie is the true hero of this story. I'm just grateful to be alive."
The passengers applauded in response.
As Allie embarked on her journey, the winter solstice marking the eighth anniversary of David's transplant was still a week away. But their unexpected reunion on the plane served as a memorable highlight to Allie's day, especially given her mother's medical situation. "My mother has improved since then," David told CNN. "Although we're both grateful every year at this time." "Eight years have passed," Allie added. "I would still do it again if the opportunity arose."
After receiving the life-saving donation, David added Allie to his United Airlines travel benefits, enabling her to fly like his own family members. This allowed her to unexpectedly meet David on a flight years later, proving to be a heartwarming reunion.
Despite her mother's heart attack, Allie was on Flight 2223, preparing to take off. Hearing David's name over the PA system, she was surprised to see him approaching, and their emotional reunion was met with applause from the passengers.
