As one recent case proves, the health of a child can squash even the fiercest rivalries. According to a New York Daily News story, a Boston Red Sox fan donated bone marrow to a young New York Yankees fan, saving the child’s life.
Two years ago, young Port Chester, NY resident, Matthew Welling, was diagnosed with osteopetrosis shortly before his first birthday. In order to overcome the rare bone disease, Matthew needed a bone marrow transplant. Though the Welling family were die-hard Yankees fans, they found the bone marrow Matthew needed from an unlikely source: Staunch Red Sox fan and Boston native Steve Karas.
Karas’ stem cells were ultimately rejected by Matthew’s body, but the transplant bought the youngster the time he needed to await a new transplant two months later. Now, three-year-old Matthew is alive and well — and a Yankees fan!
Matthew and his parents, Michael and Susie, first met Karas in January of 2008. Though they thanked him for his act of kindness, some good-natured sports ribbing ensued, and the Wellings and Karas became fast friends. When Karas invited the Wellings to his home, he placed a life-sized Jason Varitek poster in his living room. When Karas visited the Wellings, Susie decked out the guest bedroom in Yankees gear.
The friendship soon turned into activism. Now, Karas and the Wellings have joined forces with Aflac and the Red Sox to organize bone marrow drives. To find out more about bone marrow donations and how you can help, visit www.marrow.org.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
