BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 60,780
- Reaction score
- 16,189
- Points
- 113
per the U:
Seven years, a full college career, and time with the pros in Europe had all passed when Andre Hollins got a call in summer 2019 to try to save a life.
It had been a long time since he made the pledge, but the answer was clear.
"First, I was kind of confused, because you sign up not really knowing what the odds are that you'll ever be matched to somebody," Hollins said. "But I was like, 'You know what, sure.' It was no skin off my back to go and do this for someone in need. I can be a blessing to someone."
The former Gophers guard first put himself on the bone marrow registry back in 2012 at HopeDay, an annual gathering with Minnesota student-athletes and members and families of the HopeKids organization. Be The Match had a booth at the event, and himself and teammates signed up, but didn't expect much.
When the time finally came, Hollins said that the process was much easier than he thought. Be The Match helped him arrange all of his prep appointments and tests, and when the time came to donate late last year, they covered his flights from his hometown of Memphis to Minneapolis.
He didn't know much about his perfect match, a 30-year-old man with leukemia. The patient passed away before they could ever connect, and Be The Match was there for Andre then, too.
"It was tough to hear, they didn't make it through," Hollins said. "But one thing that I can say, is that everyone who was there, the nurses who were there when they drew my white blood cells, they reached out to me after they found out that the patient had passed and after I gave my donation. Everybody was just awesome, it was awesome to do that and they made me feel appreciated."
Hollins now serves on the Board of Ambassadors for Be The Match and has heard from families and patients through social media. Their stories have made him certain that he would donate again, "in a heartbeat, no hesitation."
"During that time, they're really not hearing anything but bad news. So for the family and for the patient, having that chance and that hope of, 'Yes, you matched with somebody' … Just hearing that made things a lot better," Hollins said. "That month or two where things are looking up and not grim, that really helps the family and the patient. So being able to do that, I know that I made a difference in someone's life. We can make a difference in each other's lives, no matter the outcome."
gophersports.com
Go Gophers!
Seven years, a full college career, and time with the pros in Europe had all passed when Andre Hollins got a call in summer 2019 to try to save a life.
It had been a long time since he made the pledge, but the answer was clear.
"First, I was kind of confused, because you sign up not really knowing what the odds are that you'll ever be matched to somebody," Hollins said. "But I was like, 'You know what, sure.' It was no skin off my back to go and do this for someone in need. I can be a blessing to someone."
The former Gophers guard first put himself on the bone marrow registry back in 2012 at HopeDay, an annual gathering with Minnesota student-athletes and members and families of the HopeKids organization. Be The Match had a booth at the event, and himself and teammates signed up, but didn't expect much.
When the time finally came, Hollins said that the process was much easier than he thought. Be The Match helped him arrange all of his prep appointments and tests, and when the time came to donate late last year, they covered his flights from his hometown of Memphis to Minneapolis.
He didn't know much about his perfect match, a 30-year-old man with leukemia. The patient passed away before they could ever connect, and Be The Match was there for Andre then, too.
"It was tough to hear, they didn't make it through," Hollins said. "But one thing that I can say, is that everyone who was there, the nurses who were there when they drew my white blood cells, they reached out to me after they found out that the patient had passed and after I gave my donation. Everybody was just awesome, it was awesome to do that and they made me feel appreciated."
Hollins now serves on the Board of Ambassadors for Be The Match and has heard from families and patients through social media. Their stories have made him certain that he would donate again, "in a heartbeat, no hesitation."
"During that time, they're really not hearing anything but bad news. So for the family and for the patient, having that chance and that hope of, 'Yes, you matched with somebody' … Just hearing that made things a lot better," Hollins said. "That month or two where things are looking up and not grim, that really helps the family and the patient. So being able to do that, I know that I made a difference in someone's life. We can make a difference in each other's lives, no matter the outcome."
Hollins Finds a Fit with Be The Match - University of Minnesota Athletics
When Andre Hollins got a call in summer 2019 to try to save a life, the answer was clear.
Go Gophers!
