My Blood Type Helped Save My Life. Now It’s Helping Me Give Back.
How my AB blood type played a role in my liver transplant — and why I now spend an hour each month trying to help someone else.
In December 2023, a 34-year-old man named Spencer saved my life. He didn’t know me. We had never met. But because he made the decision to become an organ donor, I received the liver transplant I desperately needed.
I have spent nearly three years thinking about that gift and what I can do with the second chance he gave me. Starting Mark Here 4 Life was my way of turning gratitude into action. But I also wanted to do something personally.
So I started donating plasma. And as it turns out, my blood type makes that donation particularly valuable.
The Blood Type That Helped Save My Life
Only about 4% of Americans have type AB blood. In liver transplantation, AB recipients can be
compatible with donors across the ABO blood groups.
I was placed on the transplant list on December 5, 2023. Three days later, I received Spencer’s
liver. After the hardest year of my life, I suddenly had another chance.
Blood type was one factor working in my favor. Medical urgency, donor compatibility and allocation rules matter too. But I find it remarkable that the same blood type that helped my transplant journey can now help other people.
Plasma and other blood components are separated during donations. The golden-colored plasma collected during a donation.
Turns Out, My Plasma Is Pretty Popular
People with AB blood are considered universal plasma donors. Their plasma is compatible with
recipients of any ABO blood type.
Now, I’m not saying I’m special. But apparently, my plasma is.
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood and contains proteins, including clotting factors, that are
important in medical care. Donated plasma may help patients with severe bleeding, trauma, burns and certain other conditions. A single AB Elite donation can yield up to four plasma units, according to the American Red Cross.
My New Monthly Routine
These days, I try to donate plasma about once a month. The machine draws blood, separates the plasma and returns the remaining components to my body.
The visit takes about an hour. Considering what I went through in 2023, sitting in a chair for a while is hardly a sacrifice. And yes, I usually wear something representing the Chicago Bears. Apparently, surviving a liver transplant still hasn’t cured that particular condition.
Still representing the Bears — even in the donation chair.
An hour to remember
That hour gives me something I don’t always make enough time for in everyday life: time to think.
I think about December 2023. About how close I came to dying. About the doctors and nurses who helped me through the hardest year of my life. And, of course, I think about Spencer.
Sometimes I think about how lucky I am to be sitting in that chair at all. Other times, I think about the people who might benefit from what I’m donating. Mostly, it gives me a chance to reflect on how far I’ve come.
And when I leave, I genuinely feel good inside. Not because I’ve done something extraordinary, but because I’ve done something that might make a difference.
It’s become one of my favorite hours of the month.
Thinking about the people on the other end
I’ve been told a plasma donation might help several cancer patients, depending on how the plasma is processed and used. The exact number varies, and I can’t verify the claim that every donation helps five patients.
But even if my donation helps just one person, that’s enough for me. I know what it’s like to have
your future depend on medical care and the generosity of strangers.
I may never know the people who receive my plasma. Spencer never knew me, either. And look
what he did for me.
Giving back doesn’t always require something extraordinary
You can donate blood, platelets or plasma if you’re eligible. You can register as an organ donor and have that important conversation with your family.
I started Mark Here 4 Life because I believe one decision can change someone’s entire world. I
know that because one decision changed mine.
“Spencer gave me a second chance at life.
This is one small way I’m trying to make it count.”
One small way to make it count
I can’t repay Spencer for what he gave me. Nobody could. But I can honor his gift by making the
most of the life he helped save.
That hour in the donation chair is an hour to remember where I’ve been, appreciate where I am, and think about the person who made it possible.
And maybe, somewhere down the line, someone I’ve never met will get another birthday, another
holiday, or simply another tomorrow because I spent that hour giving back.
Want to Make a Difference?
Learn more about plasma donation through the American Red Cross.
Grateful to be here — and grateful for another opportunity to give.
The Human Story
Behind Our Purpose
Mark’s life was saved by a man named Spencer — a 34-year-old father whose decision became the reason Mark Here 4 Life exists. Their story is at the heart of everything we do.
