The Real Housewives of Dallas' Stephanie Hollman Donated Bone Marrow to Help Save a Stranger's Life
"I have nothing to lose and she has everything to gain," the #RHOD mom shared.
Stephanie Hollman recently underwent a procedure to donate bone marrow to a complete stranger. And now The Real Housewives of Dallas mom is opening up about her potentially life-saving donation.
Two days before Easter, Stephanie learned that she was the only match to a mom with cancer after receiving a call from a donor center that matches donors to people with blood cancer, the RHOD mom recently detailed to FOX 4 News in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Stephanie had swabbed her cheeks for the donor center while at a fun run four years ago. The chances of being a match to a non-family member are less than 1 percent, according to FOX 4 News' report. “I mean, I have nothing to lose and she has everything to gain,” Stephanie said.
Stephanie prepped for the procedure by getting shots to increase her white blood cell count, which made her sluggish and sore. The RHOD mom flew to Oklahoma City last week to have the peripheral stem cell donation performed, which she likened to giving blood, except for five hours a day. She was able to make a donation of 10 million white blood cells to the woman through a program called DKMS.
Stephanie's husband, Travis Hollman called his wife a superhero, which echoed his praise for his spouse on Instagram. “You're really saving someone's life,” Travis told FOX 4 News. “It's a different type of gift. This is something big.”
Stephanie now calls the woman she donated to her "blood sister." “Helping somebody even live, even if it's five more years, I feel like that's a job well done at the end of the day,” Stephanie said. "And I think that's what everyone wants out of their life.”
The RHOD mom thanked her fans for all of their love and support on Instagram following the procedure. "If I could give you all a big, warm hug, I would! Thank you for all the kind messages and prayers you have sent over the past 24 hours! I promise, I have read each and every one of your comments, tweets, emails, DM's and text's. I could not be more blessed to have such wonderful internet friends!" Stephanie gushed. "I have the most AMAZING nurse @atucky who has taken the best care of me, I couldn't be more appreciative!"
Check out some lovely pics of Stephanie and her loved ones through the years, below.
