Versiti - Jack Zbiegien | Impact Stories
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Jack Zbiegien

“Without courageous blood and marrow donors, I would not be alive today.”

Jack Zbiegien

When he was 40 years old, Jack Zbiegien went to the doctor with what he thought was an earache. It turned out to be leukemia.

Over the course of 15 months, Jack received more than 300 blood transfusions and a bone marrow transplant that helped him beat cancer. “Without courageous blood and marrow donors, I would not be alive today,” he says. “I am so thankful to have a second chance at life.”

Now in remission, Jack is a member of the Versiti Blood Research Institute Foundation board and, in 2023, established Delivering a Cure, a fundraising organization that supports people fighting blood cancer—including investigators at Versiti Blood Research Institute.

“I’m still able to go through surviving,” he says. “It’s a blessing.”

Impact Stories | Blood Donation

 

Daniel Wilkens

Dan passed away unexpectedly in 2022 and his mother, Audrey, and widow, Ashley, made the courageous decision to donate his heart, lungs, kidneys and liver to save lives.
 

Jackie Kold

“No matter how healthy you are, you never know when you or someone you love will need blood,” said Jackie. “I hope my story inspires others to give this special gift.” 
 

Cordell Niay

After succumbing to a major brain bleed, Cordell donated his organs and tissues to save lives. Now, his family encourage others to learn what it means to be a registered donor.
 

Mary Ferguson

Mary has antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), an autoimmune disease that causes blood clots to form throughout her body. She receives treatment from Versiti’s Lisa Baumann Kreuziger, MD, MS, and credits her with saving her life.