Joseph Pack: Transforming Lives Through Blood Stem Cell Transplants
Meta Information:
- Meta Title: Saving Lives Through Blood Stem Cell Transplants: Joseph Pack’s Story
- Meta Description: Discover how NMDP is making life-saving blood stem cell transplants accessible to patients in need. Watch our exclusive interview with social media marketer Joseph Pack.
- Slug: blood-stem-cell-transplants-nmdp
Making a Difference in Blood Stem Cell Transplants
Every year, thousands of patients battle life-threatening blood cancers and diseases, with one potential cure—a blood stem cell transplant. But finding a matching donor remains a significant challenge.
That’s where NMDP (formerly Be The Match) steps in, helping patients connect with donors and receive life-saving transplants.
In a recent episode of the Are You Happy? podcast, Joseph Pack, a social media marketer at NMDP, shared his personal journey—from corporate marketing to nonprofit advocacy—and how he’s using storytelling to inspire new donors and save lives.
Before reading further, watch our exclusive podcast interview with Joseph Pack to learn more about NMDP’s impact and how you can get involved.
A Personal Journey into Nonprofit Work
Joseph’s passion for NMDP’s mission comes from a deeply personal place.
At just 22 years old, he lost his mother to leukemia. Despite efforts to find a blood stem cell donor, a match never came in time.
This painful loss became the driving force behind his career shift—from corporate marketing to nonprofit advocacy.
By joining NMDP, Joseph now works to:
- Raise awareness about the importance of blood stem cell transplants.
- Encourage more people to join the donor registry.
- Help patients find matches and access life-saving treatments.
Watch the full interview here.
What is NMDP?
Formerly known as Be The Match, NMDP is a nonprofit dedicated to:
- Facilitating blood stem cell transplants for patients battling leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders.
- Connecting donors and recipients through an extensive national registry.
- Advancing research to improve accessibility and success rates of transplants.
2023 Impact Stats:
✔ Over 7,000 blood stem cell transplants facilitated.
✔ Thousands of patients given a second chance at life.
✔ Increased efforts to diversify the donor registry for more equitable access.
While blood stem cell transplants are a proven cure, finding a matching donor is often the biggest challenge.
How Blood Stem Cell Transplants Save Lives
A blood stem cell transplant replaces unhealthy stem cells with healthy ones from a donor, offering a potential cure for blood-related diseases.
The Transplant Process:
- Prepping the Patient – High-dose chemotherapy eliminates diseased cells.
- Receiving Donor Stem Cells – Healthy stem cells are infused into the bloodstream.
- Recovery & Regrowth – New cells regenerate, restoring the patient’s immune system.
For many patients, this is their only chance for survival.
But the success of a transplant depends entirely on finding a genetically compatible donor.
The Challenge of Finding a Donor Match
One of NMDP’s biggest obstacles is the complexity of matching donors with patients.
Why is it so difficult?
- Ethnicity plays a significant role in donor matching.
- Patients from minority backgrounds have fewer matches available in the registry.
- A larger and more diverse donor pool is needed to increase survival chances for all patients.
By recruiting more diverse donors, NMDP is working to close the gap and ensure that every patient has an equal shot at receiving a transplant.
Click to watch the full interview and learn why donor diversity is critical.
Stories of Hope and Survival
One of the most inspiring patient stories Joseph shared is that of Lea, a young woman who received a blood stem cell transplant as a child.
- She was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder at a young age.
- A matching donor was found through NMDP, giving her a second chance.
- Today, she celebrates five years post-transplant, living a healthy and fulfilling life.
By sharing stories like Lea’s, NMDP:
- Encourages more donors to register.
- Spreads hope to families in need.
- Inspires action through real-life impact.
Challenges of Nonprofit Work: A Reality Check
Transitioning from corporate marketing to nonprofit work came with unexpected emotional challenges for Joseph.
Difficult Realities of the Job:
- Witnessing critically ill patients waiting for transplants.
- Knowing that some won’t find a match in time.
- The emotional toll of working in life-or-death situations.
But despite the hard moments, the ability to help save lives makes the work deeply fulfilling.
Joseph’s biggest lesson?
“Focus on what you can control and keep doing good work, even when setbacks happen.”
What’s Next for NMDP?
NMDP is continuously working to improve access to blood stem cell transplants for all patients, regardless of background.
Upcoming Projects & Innovations:
- New research into more inclusive transplant options.
- Streamlined donor-matching technology to speed up the process.
- Expanded efforts to recruit more diverse donors for equitable access.
The goal?
✔ Make life-saving transplants more accessible.
✔ Reduce racial disparities in donor matching.
✔ Give every patient a fighting chance.
How You Can Help Save Lives
1. Join the Donor Registry
- The process is quick, simple, and painless.
- Sign up online, receive a swab kit, and send it back.
- You could be the life-saving match a patient is waiting for.
2. Spread the Word on Social Media
- Share NMDP’s mission to encourage more sign-ups.
- Use #BeTheMatch to raise awareness and recruit donors.
3. Donate to Support Transplant Patients
- Financial contributions help:
- Cover transplant costs for patients in need.
- Fund research and registry expansion.
- Support donor recruitment and awareness efforts.
Every new donor and supporter brings hope to patients fighting for their lives.
Final Thoughts: A Call to Action
Joseph Pack’s journey is a testament to turning personal loss into meaningful impact.
Through his work at NMDP, he:
- Honors his mother’s memory.
- Raises awareness about the power of stem cell transplants.
- Helps save lives through donor recruitment and storytelling.
Watch the full interview with Joseph Pack to learn how NMDP is transforming lives—one transplant at a time.