Be The Match: Hannah Fisher Answers The Call

Fisher is the third Western Illinois student-athlete in three years to go through the bone marrow donor process

MACOMB, Ill. – Three years ago, Hannah Fisher (Peoria/Peoria Notre Dame) signed up for 'Be The Match' Bone marrow donor program just two months after her grandfather passed away due to cancer.

'Be The Match' has a special meaning for the Western Illinois swimmer, because it is about making a difference and helping people to potentially save lives.

"I found out in October [2014] before a swim meet and right before Alumni Week that he had passed," said Fisher. "Obviously, cancer is a very destructive disease and 'Be The Match' showed up about a month or two afterwards and I just got involved hoping I could make a difference. I just wanted to be able to make that difference for maybe one person."

The actual process to join takes only 15-20 minutes. After finishing the required paperwork, a few swabs are taken from the inside of a donor's mouth and the DNA goes into the national bone marrow registry.

For the thousands of people diagnosed every year with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, a cure exists. Over the past 25 years, 'Be The Match', operated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), has managed the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world. They are working every day to save lives through transplant.

From the moment doctors search their registry for a donor, to the safe delivery of the life-saving cells to patients' bedsides for transplant – Be The Match is there every step of the way. Their global network counts on their technology, expertise and unparalleled logistical support at every step to make the transplant possible. Seeing the lives that are saved through transplant drives their never-ending passion and dedication to find the match they need, according to the organization's website.

"When my grandfather had cancer, he needed a bone marrow transplant and he couldn't find a match," said Fisher. "It made me think 'what if I could have been his match' and 'what if I could have made a difference in his, or someone else's life?' At the start, we had a person come in from Be The Match who talked about how they are always in need of it [bone marrow donations]. My freshman year we had football player JJ Veloz who was a match. If you wanted to donate, they said they would need a swab inside my cheek for some DNA. I was excited because I knew this could be doing something more than the blood donations I used to do. From there I knew I needed to do the swab."

Three years later, Hannah Fisher is able to make that difference for an adult woman battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

"When I found out, I was super excited and nervous at the same time, because it was such an unknown thing to me. I couldn't believe that I was a freshman when I registered for it, and that I was somehow a match for someone who needed it," added Fisher. "When I got the call, I couldn't believe out of everybody they swabbed, I was the match. It was an overwhelming feeling when I found out that I was able to do something to help somebody. I want to encourage any athlete to participate in the swab and potentially be a match."

Fisher is now the third Leatherneck student-athlete in three years to be a match. In 2015, former Leatherneck football player JJ Veloz was a match, followed by fellow teammate Brody Carls in 2016.

"Hannah is the third student-athlete in as many years to serve as a bone marrow donor," said Director of Athletics Matt Tanney. "It takes courage to engage in the donor process, and our Leatherneck student-athletes continue to step forward when called upon. Like JJ Veloz and Brody Carls, we're proud of Hannah's efforts towards such a worthwhile cause and making a difference in the life of another."

The transplant is scheduled to take place within the next four to six weeks at a hospital in downtown Chicago. Fisher will actually be giving bone marrow instead of the usual blood draw.

"Hannah has a great opportunity to help another person out in their life's journey," said head swimming and diving coach Greg Naumann. "She is part of one of our hardest training groups, and I think that those challenges will help her help her match through the donation process. It's exciting to know that something our football program started has helped several individuals, and even more exciting to know that one of our swimmers has been found to be a match. I'm sure that it will be a difficult process, but I know that she will be up to it."

Seventy percent of all patients who need a transplant do not have a matched donor in their family. A patient's likelihood of finding a matching donor on the Be The Match Registry is estimated to range from 66-97%, depending on race and ethnicity. The "Get in the Game" drive, which is a national initiative that began in 2008 by Villanova Coach Andrew Talley, is designed to build the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

"I'm excited for the reason that I am their match and it makes me feel that I am helping someone," said Fisher. "It made me feel that I am more than just an athlete and more than just a student. I would say that anybody who has the chance should do it. Be The Match is encouraging and is always looking for people to get involved to save a life."

For more information, visit BeTheMatch.org.

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Players Mentioned

Hannah Fisher: Distance/Fly; Junior; Peoria Notre Dame

Players Mentioned

Hannah Fisher
: Junior; Peoria Notre Dame
: Distance/Fly