Louisiana woman forgot a form she signed on her first day of college — three years later, she learned a little girl’s life depended on it
A simple decision made during a college orientation would later change two families forever. A young woman in Louisiana once signed a donor registry form as a student and then moved on with her life, barely thinking about it again. Years later, she would learn that a little girl with a critical illness in Alabama was waiting for a lifesaving match. The story connects Maycie Fuselier of Louisiana and Sophie Cromer of Alabama in a way neither could have imagined. On September 2022, Sophie’s health began to decline, setting off a chain of events that led doctors to search nationwide for help. As reported by KKCO 11 News, that search eventually led back to a form Fuselier had nearly forgotten she signed.
Sophie was just six years old when her parents noticed troubling changes. Once active and cheerful, she became tired easily and developed dark circles under her eyes. “Sophie had some bruising. We took her to the pediatrician, they immediately sent us here,” her mother, Candace Cromer, told the outlet. After spending a weekend at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, the family first felt relief when leukemia was ruled out after several tests. But weeks later, doctors delivered a new diagnosis; severe aplastic anemia. The rare blood disorder prevents bone marrow from making enough healthy blood cells. While treatments exist, a bone marrow transplant is the only cure.
The family hoped Sophie’s older sister would be a match, but testing brought more heartbreak. “We were very upset. We didn’t know what our options were from there,” Cromer said. Only a small number of patients find a perfect donor within their immediate family. Doctors expanded the search to the national registry. That is where Maycie Fuselier’s name appeared. She had joined the registry on her first day at McNeese State University. Three years passed before she received a letter informing her she might be a match. “They sent something in the mail and at first I thought it was spam mail. Then I opened it and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I forgot I did this,’” Fuselier said. After learning more, she agreed to make the life-saving donation.
Four months after her diagnosis, Sophie underwent a bone marrow transplant using Fuselier’s donation. The procedure offered the cure she desperately needed. Over time, Sophie regained her strength and returned to being the lively child her parents remembered. More than two years later, the two families met in person. There were tears, hugs, and deep gratitude. Sophie’s mother said her daughter now has a second chance at life because of Fuselier’s choice.
A kind gesture, even if done only once, can be easily forgotten, but its impact can last a lifetime. This was the case for Matt Wilkinson, a 24-year-old from Leeds, who joined the stem cell register in 2019 without realizing it could save a life. Six years later, he learned that he was a compatible match for an American woman who needed a transplant. “The whole thing was a bit of a shock, especially as it all moved very quickly once I was matched with the patient,” he said. Traveling to Manchester, he donated his stem cells, which then helped a woman across the Atlantic. “I was just glad that I was able to help someone,” Matt added, encouraging others to sign up and make a difference.
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