COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A simple cheek swab taken by a young pilot at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado six years ago led to a life-saving bone marrow transplant for a man battling a rare and aggressive form of leukemia in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cadet Tristan Briggs, then 19 years old, had joined a bone marrow registry event where he registered without much thought, thinking the odds of being matched were slim. Little did he know that his selfless act would make a life-saving impact down the road.
Briggs, now 29 and stationed at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, was eventually identified as a perfect match for Jack Miller, a man struggling with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) – a disease that causes abnormal white blood cells to grow rapidly in the bone marrow. Miller’s condition had deteriorated significantly following his diagnosis, battling pneumonia and sepsis as complications of the disease.
Dr. Kent Holland, medical director of Northside Hospital’s Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, oversaw Miller’s bone marrow transplant, highlighting the intricacies of finding a suitable donor. The closer the match in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) between donor and recipient, the higher the success rate of the transplant. Holland pointed out that the odds of a match like the one between Briggs and Miller are rare, noting that Briggs met all 10 genes essential for a successful transplant.
The transplant took place on May 26, 2020, as both Briggs and Miller eagerly awaited the outcome. Following the successful procedure, both men decided to stay in touch, eventually meeting in person in Savannah. The emotional encounter solidified a bond between the donor and recipient, with Miller expressing his gratitude by considering Briggs and his family as their own.
Reflecting on the impact of his donation, Briggs emphasized the gratification of knowing that his bone marrow had bestowed a second chance at life upon Miller. Additionally, he pointed out the importance of being a potential bone marrow donor, highlighting the process of joining a registry, undergoing genetic testing, and the different ways one can donate stem cells.
Through his selfless act, Briggs not only saved a life but also forged a lasting bond with Miller, emphasizing the significance of being a bone marrow donor and the life-changing impact it can have on both donor and recipient.