DUARTE >> Evan Braggs, a 32-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, could not contain his emotions Friday when, for the first time, he met the man who saved his life more than a decade ago.

Its a humbling experience, Braggs said of meeting and embracing his bone marrow donor, Mike Cook, a 49-year-old Marine from Virginia. Braggs and Cook were one of two pairs of donors and recipients meeting for the first time at City of Hopes 41st annual Bone Marrow Transplant Reunion at the hospitals Duarte campus.

Its overwhelming, said Cook. To think that just me saying yes to what I thought was a little thing, turned into such a big thing. I want to thank you (Evan), because you make me a better person.

Sergio Ramirez, 34, of Los Angeles also got to meet and thank in person his donor, Michael Palacios, a 27-year-old from Silver Lake.

My sons were also excited to meet him, especially my youngest who wrote him a poem, and they all have thank-you cards for him, Ramirez said.

Youre a blessing, he said to Palacios.

The yearly event celebrates the work of City of Hope doctors and staff, as well as the success of their transplant program, which has performed more than 13,000 bone marrow, cord blood and stem cell transplants.

More than 4,000 City of Hope transplant recipients, donors, their families and others reunited Friday and were treated to a picnic-style gathering at the campus.

Braggs was a strong young athlete competing in hurdles at Mt. San Antonio College when he was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. The disease prevents a persons blood marrow from making an adequate amount of new blood cells, and can eventually lead to severe heart problems.

The diagnosis was a shock; hed never so much as broken a bone in his life. After several treatments to try to boost his bone marrow production, as well as weekly blood transfusions, doctors determined he needed a bone marrow transplant.

A match was made and Braggs underwent the transplant operation in 2005, while he was on summer break.

Braggs wife, Melina Fregoso, is also a cancer survivor. The couple rode on the City of Hope Rose Parade float together in 2015. She said meeting her husbands donor was an emotional experience.

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Im grateful that I got to meet him today, and to give thanks, Braggs said.

Cook, after serving in the Marines for more than two decades, is now a reverend in charge of the mens ministry at Shiloh New Site Baptist Church in Virginia. He said meeting his recipient for the first time Friday allowed him to understand what his donation truly meant.

Cook was stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia when he attended a blood drive and was offered to register for bone marrow donation. When he signed up, Cook thought of his nephew, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was just a toddler.

I thought, if I ever have the chance to save someone, I would, he said.

Just like Cook, the act of giving came naturally to Palacios. He was a volunteer at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles when representatives from Be The Match registry visited. He signed up as soon as he could.

Its just something I do, Palacios said. We dont feel like heroes. If were in a position to help, were happy to do it.

Sergio Ramirez was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Even after three years of treatment, the disease returned with even greater strength.

Knowing the chances of survival for all patients after relapsing were slim, Ramirez was more concerned with what would happen to his family his wife and three sons.

Ramirez took part in an immunotherapy trial at City of Hope. He responded well to the treatment, and he went into remission. But a bone marrow transplant would be the only thing to prevent the cancer from returning.

Its an amazing feeling every morning I wake up, to hear my kids, to see the sunshine, Ramirez said.

Palacios said he will follow up to make sure he is still on the donor registration list with the hopes that he could have the chance to save another life in the future.

I want to continue to inspire others to donate, he said. After meeting (Ramirez), he can finally say he doesnt have to worry about cancer, and be with his family; that makes me happy and gives me hope.

For more information about City of Hope and bone marrow donor registry, go to http://www.cityofhope.org.

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City of Hope brings together bone marrow transplant recipients and donors for first time - The San Gabriel Valley Tribune

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