Birmingham native Emma Chumley is a dedicated and compassionate 2025 Spring graduate in nursing from Auburn, whose journey reflects a profound commitment to service and hope. Chumley is a nurse at Children's of Alabama in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.Her story highlights the growing importance of cell therapy – the use of healthy cells to treat or even cure life-threatening diseases such as blood cancers.

Chumley first learned about the National Bone Marrow Registry during her sophomore year at AUCON, when she attended a Pediatric and NICU Club meeting. “A spokesperson introduced the organization, and joining the registry was as simple as providing a cheek swab. Before this meeting, I was unaware of the registry’s existence,” she said.

Established in 1987, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), also known as “Be The Match,” oversees the national bone marrow donor registry. As a global nonprofit leader in cell therapy, its mission is to save lives through cellular therapies and ensure that every patient has access to potentially life-saving treatment. The organization is responsible for screening potential donor samples and, upon identifying a suitable match, coordinating donation procedures with both the donor’s and recipient’s healthcare providers. Donations may involve either peripheral blood stem cells or traditional bone marrow aspiration.

According to Chumley, her motivation to join mirrored the reasons she pursued a nursing career: hope, service, and compassion. “Joining the registry felt like a tangible way to help individuals who might not have other options for a cure. I thought about those awaiting transplants, hoping that my participation — or someone else’s — could offer them a second chance at life.”

She acknowledges that she did not fully understand what being a match entailed when she registered. Only recently, after being notified as a potential donor, did she learn the details of the donation process. “Being selected was both unexpected and rewarding. The process included various lab tests, blood drawings, physicals, and medication injections. On the actual donation day, I had two large bore IVs — one in each arm — so that blood could be drawn and returned while stem cells were collected using an apheresis machine.

“Overall, I faced minimal challenges. The medications given before donation can cause mild discomfort, but in my experience, side effects were manageable. NMDP provided comprehensive support, ensuring donors have everything needed for a comfortable and successful donation.

“Currently, I won’t receive an update about my recipient’s condition for several months, as anonymity is preserved until the transplant’s outcome is known. Until then, my family and friends continue to hope and pray for the recipient’s health. I do know the recipient is an adult with leukemia, and for many facing blood cancer, stem cell transplants may be the only curative option. When I receive news about the outcome, I look forward to sharing it and hope for a positive result." 

For Chumley, participating in the National Marrow Donor Program has been a profound and humbling experience, reinforcing her belief in the power of hope and service. Through each step — from joining the registry to completing the donation — Chumley witnessed how a simple act can ripple outward and potentially save a life. She encourages anyone moved by her story to consider joining the registry and become part of a community dedicated to giving others a second chance at life.

“Emma was a joy to have in my classes,” said Professor Ann Lambert. “Always ready to lend a hand, she participated actively in our Peds & NICU club and consistently demonstrated humility alongside a strong drive to achieve. I’m eager to see the remarkable things she’ll accomplish in the future.”

Chumley notes that Be The Match is always recruiting new registry members. Interested individuals can visit their website for details: https://my.nmdp.org/s/join?language=en_US&joinCode=headerjoin