Caitlin “Simply Wanted to Help” – and Ended Up Saving a Life!

Photo Credit: DKMS Africa via Facebook

A single decision to follow her heart after a conversation with a friend turned Caitlin’s desire to help into the ultimate gift: saving someone’s life.

Cape Town, South Africa (30 September 2026) – It’s crazy to think we could be one decision away from something significantly life-changing. It could be choosing what you chose to study, deciding where to give back, or whether to turn left or right when at a crossroads. For Caitlin, it was deciding to listen to the tug on her heart after a friend had told her about stem cell donation.

It was in 2022, while studying towards her Master’s in Historical Studies at the University of Cape Town, that she registered to become a stem cell donor simply because she wanted to help someone.

“When I googled, DKMS came up, and I could not think of a good enough reason not to register. I registered online, did my cheek swab test and went back to my studies,” Caitlin tells DKMS Africa.

Her decision eventually led her to be identified as someone else’s lifeline. Caitlin got the call informing her that she had been identified as a potential match for a patient in need of a stem cell transplant.

“I never expected that I would ever match with someone.”

“My first call was to my mother, a trained nurse, who was excited about the possibility of me helping someone. I, however, had questions. Would donating hurt? What would the process involve? And would she be able to go through with it?”

However, that initial panic was soon settled by the realisation that she would only spend a few hours being uncomfortable to save someone’s life. Any discomfort then was worth it.

The days leading up to the donation were not without challenges. Caitlin got nervous and experienced some side effects from the medication used to stimulate her stem cell production, but by the morning of her donation, she was all good.

When she arrived at the hospital, Caitlin says the nerves returned, but the medical team helped reassure her and made sure she was comfortable throughout the process.

“The nurses and doctor involved were very friendly and did everything possible to ensure I was comfortable.”

For Caitlin, that moment put everything into perspective. What had started with a simple online registration had brought her to a hospital, where she was donating her stem cells to someone she had never met.

She says the experience has changed how she views stem cell donation.

“Before registering, I knew very little about the process. Today, I know that registering can be simple, but the impact of being a match can be life-changing.”

Caitlin registered in 2022 without knowing if she would ever be called. But she was, and she showed up.

To make a decision that could save a life like Caitlin did, register as a stem cell donor on the DKMS website. If you are already registered, remember to keep your contact details up to date so that you can be reached when the time comes.