Stem cell donor gives man a second chance at life

CARLINVILLE, Ill. (WAND) - A quick swab of the cheek saved Alec Kirchoefer's life. After being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2021, he needed a stem cell transplant. Aaron Clark was his only perfect match in the country, and they met for the first time this year.

"They said, you don't have any chemo or any treatment you'd have about a year to live before. Just your body can't go on any longer," said Kirchoefer.

At the age of 31, Kirchoefer was diagnosed with cancer. He had always been active and relatively healthy, but he experienced severe fatigue and trouble breathing. Initially, he thought he was suffering from long COVID-19. After his diagnosis, he had little hope of being able to have biological children or grow old with his wife.

"Every morning, I wake up and I'm feeling healthy. It's just the biggest blessing. I remember when I was sick, just the thought of even being able to go to a gym and work out in the morning was just a far-off thought. But now being able to exercise and feel okay and do, do a bike ride like I used to be able to, it's the best feeling," said Kirchoefer.

The donor, Aaron Clark, expressed how donating stem cells has changed his life.

"I'm forever changed by it. I always reflect back on what kind of the purpose of my life has been, and this is for sure been one of them, that I, I think of, in this moment," said Clark.

Now, the two men share a brotherly bond and even have the same blood type after the transplant. Kirchoefer also celebrates an additional birthday, which he calls his "re-birthday," commemorating his second chance at life after the procedure.