Watch CBS News

Colorado Scientist Makes Potentially Lifesaving Stem Cell Donation

DENVER (CBS4) - Stem cell donation is an effective treatment for many blood disorders and cancers. The Be The Match registry links patients with potential donors. Bonfils Blood Center maintains the registry in Colorado and coordinates donations for patients across the country.

LINK: Bonfils Blood Center

Recently, Jaimee Hoefert got the call that she was a match. She was thrilled. She's a scientist, working toward a PhD in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. She studies follicle cells and is no stranger to thinking about the body on a cellular level.

"It's very fascinating to me that we can take stem cells from one person and put them in someone else," Hoefert told CBS4.

Jaimee Hoefert
Jaimee Hoefert (credit: CBS)

Personally, she feels a connection too. Her grandmother was recently diagnosed with a blood cancer.

"I'm also really excited to hopefully help someone who is struggling with a disease," she explained.

In the days leading up to the donation, Hoefert went through a battery of medical tests to make sure she was healthy. She also received five days worth of injections to increase her white blood cell count.

"It's been good. It's made me tired and a little achy, but Tylenol and ibuprofen have pretty much taken it away," Hoefert said.

On the day of the donation, Hoefert spent about six hours in the donation chair. Her blood was drawn out of one arm, run through a machine that separated the cells, skimmed off the stem cells, and then her blood was returned into the other arm.

"I'm trying to send all my good wishes into the cells as they're being separated. And I'm just hoping that it helps," she said from the donation chair.

Hoefert doesn't know where the cells are going or who may benefit, but she's happy that she could help someone in need.

You can support Bonfils Blood Center by buying a ticket to the GiveLive Concert on Saturday, May 7. Singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson is performing along with Keaton Simons at the Paramount Theatre. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

LINK: Buy Tickets To The GiveLive Concert

Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story you'd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.