'Winning the lottery': Corpus Christi activist meets German bone marrow donor
Nearly 30 years after her brother died of a blood disease while waiting for a bone marrow transplant, a Corpus Christi activist received an opportunity to meet the man who gave her a second chance at life.
Ticia Hanisch, a 76-year-old Corpus Christi resident, was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in September 2018. She was referred to M.D. Anderson in Houston, and her disease soon developed into acute myeloid leukemia. Hanisch, a mother of two, had a survival rate of less than 30% and would need a bone marrow transplant.
Hanisch has been involved with several community volunteer groups, including the local American Cancer Society, Christus Spohn hospitals, the local Catholic community and other organizations.
“I was stunned,” Hanisch said. “In my fantasy world, since I lost so many family members to cancer, I thought I might elude it. From the get-go, there was no turning back. I firmly believe that being positive and being scared are not mutually exclusive.”
Hanisch’s brother died of cancer in the 1990s when there were very few donors in the world donor registry.
“I remember him in bed saying him finding a donor would be like winning the lottery,” Hanisch said.
After Hanisch learned her family members would not be a match for a transplant, her DNA was placed on DKMS, an international donor registry and nonprofit organization fighting blood-related illnesses such as leukemia.
More:Corpus Christi activist is in need of a bone marrow donor
A month later, "I learned I had three matches,” Hanisch said. “What’s amazing, if you think about it, is your genetic twin is out there. It’s confusing, exciting and miraculous at the same time.”
Dominik Bradenburg, 37, from Essen, Germany, said he'd always wanted to donate his blood stem cells. He finally decided to sign up along with his boss in May 2018.
“There are so many things they have to test for, so I didn’t know that my match would be a real match,” Bradenburg said. “They asked me to give the blood stem cells, and then it became real. It’s an amazing feeling to know you can help another person across the world have a second chance at life.”
The two began talking and video-chatting shortly after finding out they were a match. When they decided to meet in person, the COVID-19 pandemic changed their plans.
Bradenburg met Hanisch in person for the first time at her home in Corpus Christi earlier this month.
“It was no big deal for me to give the stem cells,” Bradenburg said. “It was nothing from me, and to see such a lovely person with lovely friends, neighbors and family was unbelievable.”
Hanisch said they are already planning to meet again.
“Me and my husband feel like we have a new member of our family,” she said.
Now, Hanisch hopes to pay back her miracle by encouraging others to donate and diversify the donor registry. As a white patient, Hanisch had a 77% chance of finding a perfect match.
According to DKMS, that chance decreases to 57% for American Indians, 46% for Hispanics/Latinos, 41% for Asians and Pacific Islanders, and 23% for Black or African Americans.
“It’s really important to diversify our donor registry,” Hanisch said. “We need more people of different ethnicities to donate. My hope is to encourage donors who don’t necessarily look like me. There are more than 100,000 patients waiting for a donor like I was. One of those people out there could be their match.”
Anyone in good health between the ages of 18 and 55 can register to donate. For more information on how to become a stem cell donor, visit dkms.org.
More news
Draft city-port agreement on desalination splits council, draws claims of backdoor dealing
Here are two food truck festivals in March to attend in Corpus Christi
Jim Lago, former Corpus Christi conservative radio host, dies
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi activist meets German bone marrow donor
