ONE-OF-A-KIND DONATION

There is someone Ethan Kane (Texas Tech 21) would like to meet.

In June 2022, Ethan donated stem cells through the Be The Match, the national marrow donor program, and all he knows is the recipient is a 61-year-old man with leukemia. In a few short weeks, Ethan will receive an update about the man’s health, which could result in the stem cell donor and stem cell recipient meeting face-to-face.

“That’s all I want,” said the mechanical engineering major from Allen, Texas. “I would love to meet him.”

FarmHouse Fraternity and Be The Match (BTM) have history due to the efforts of Robert Graves, D.V.M. (Colorado State 53) and his wife, Sherry, who led the formation of a national Registry of volunteers willing to donate their bone marrow. Inspiration came from their daughter’s successful bone marrow transplant — the first ever for a leukemia patient from a non-family member— and BTM was formed as a result of those efforts. FarmHouse formally partnered with BTM in 2008 and continues to support the organization through philanthropy and service.

Matthew Kroeger, BTM senior partnerships manager, said, “Our partnership with FarmHouse has generated more than 4,000 Registry additions, leading to 36 donations. The potential for 36 lives saved.”

“FarmHouse young men consistently show up to volunteer, spread awareness and help provide a second chance at life for our patients and their families,” Matthew said. “They are thoughtful, hard-working and embrace the element of service on their campuses and in their communities. Their leadership will continue to make an impact.”

Kroeger has a number of notable FarmHouse stories to share. “During a two-day event, the Southern Illinois chapter shared the story of Ari, a patient in need of a match. Both of Ari’s parents work for Southern Illinois University, so it was great to see this connection to hopefully find Ari a match,” Matt said.

This academic year, the Southern Illinois and Tennessee chapters have each enrolled approximately 300 new members to the Registry, helping to bring FarmHouse chapters’ combined total to 900 — and the number continues to grow!

Ethan has his personal story to tell, beginning with why he decided to join the Registry. “Our chapter president thought it would be a good idea so I agreed,” he said.

Two months later, Ethan received an email and telephone call with the news he was a match. Depending on the match type — either stem cells or bone marrow — he would have his blood tested twice a month and receive filgrastim injections (a medication that increases the number of blood-forming cells in one’s bloodstream) twice a day during the seven days before his donation.

He was warned the shots would be painful and they were.

“They felt like lava in my body — the worst shots I’ve had,” Ethan recounted.

He could have stepped away, but he didn’t. Ethan cited the same reason he had for agreeing to donate in the first place, “I hope someone would do the same for me.”

In June 2022, Ethan and his father traveled to Houston where he spent the day at Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Technicians hooked up one IV in his left elbow and one in his right wrist. “It takes the blood from the left elbow, runs it through the machine and separates the stem cells, and returns your blood to the right wrist,” Ethan said. Seven hours later, he was finished. “I was absolutely exhausted. You’re drained. I was very tired.”

He returned home to his proud parents to rest and recuperate. Ethan had hoped his stem cells would work some magic in a man who needed them more. In June, Ethan will learn the outcome.

For now, Ethan encourages his FarmHouse brothers to join him in becoming a bone marrow and stem cell donor. Scan the QR code to for more information.

Since its founding in 1987, BTM has facilitated more than 120,000 transplants — a resounding 6,714 in 2022, alone. In addition, BTM supports approximately 250 ongoing research studies and clinical trials, and provided 6.1 million in financial assistance to 2,320 patients in need of treatment in 2022. Most importantly, half of new Registry members, aged 18-35, added new human leukocyte antigen types to the Be The Match Registry® in 2022. The Registry now includes more than nine million potential donors in the United States and more than 41 million donors worldwide.

Ethan Kane (Texas Tech 21) during his donation procedure.