King’s Hilferty makes decision that could save lives – Scranton Times-Tribune

A quick questionnaire and swab of the inside of her cheek, and Delaney Hilferty was pretty sure her duty was done.

It was just a formality that day more than three years ago when she and her King’s College football teammates did their part by joining the National Marrow Donor Program, a world leader in mental health therapy. stem cells that focuses on treating blood cancer and blood disorders, including leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell disease, and matches patients in need of transplants with donors. Over the past five years, approximately 750 people from the King community have participated in the football team’s campaign on campus each April.

Three years later, the senior from Phillipsburg, New Jersey, received news that would change her life and potentially save another.

She was 100% compatible.

“I just received a message. I thought it was strange because it was three years ago when I did it,” said Hilferty, the Monarchs’ kicker. “I got the message that I had been connected with a guy. I looked into it more and agreed to do it. It all fell into place. I just thought it was really cool. Some people in my family have had health issues. people don’t have this help. Some people don’t have this help. nor any family members who could help them.

Once she agreed to continue the process and donate her bone marrow, several steps preceded the procedure, which took place on November 4.

“They asked me if I had any illnesses. If you have something, you’re automatically kicked out,” said Hilferty, who is studying business management. “I had a full blood test done to make sure I was a perfect match.”

This required donating 15 vials of blood to test for compatibility.

“Once I was in great shape, I fully embraced giving what was needed,” Hilferty said. “I found that 90% of people donate blood by taking what they need and putting the rest back. I was part of the 10% who take your marrow. This is what they had to do.

She had no communication with the recipient.

“I just know he has a form of leukemia and he’s from Denmark,” Hilferty said. “In a few years, if the donation works, we will have a way to communicate. He’s the one who has to take the plunge to talk to me. If he would like to meet, I would be happy to talk to him. I didn’t get his name or any information about him.

Two days before her procedure, Hilferty and her teammates scored a huge 14-6 victory over Delaware Valley, which essentially ended the Middle Atlantic Conference championship and a berth in the Division III playoffs of the NCAA. The next day, she was in a car with her mother, driving to Washington DC to help save someone’s life.

“I was actually more worried about the Delaware Valley game, which was more important at the time,” Hilferty said. “Saturday night I celebrated the win a little bit, but once Sunday morning came it was time to focus on that. I’m just preparing myself mentally and physically for the donation.

She arrived at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital around 6 a.m. on Nov. 4 and met the surgeon. He explained how the procedure would take place and how they would use a hollow needle to remove the marrow from his pelvic bone. The procedure took approximately 45 minutes and resulted in the extraction of three bags of bone marrow. After the procedure, she had to take a lie-sit-stand test to make sure her blood pressure was stable enough for discharge and the trip back to Wilkes-Barre.

“As I had exhausted my bone marrow, I passed out,” Hilferty said. “I was able to leave the hospital about seven hours later after finally passing the test.”

She returned to class on November 5, but did not participate in the Monarchs’ game against Albright on November 9. She returned to practice this week and plans to play Saturday’s regular season finale at home against Stevenson. She converted all 30 of her extra point attempts this season.

“It makes me very proud,” King coach Mike Cebrosky said. “Football is part of everyone’s life, but it’s real life. It really wasn’t a question. It was real life. She made an adult decision at the age of 21. This decision she made is better than anything that can happen in a football match.

Originally published: November 14, 2024 at 10:44 p.m. EST