UNI athletic training student becomes life-saving donor for leukemia patient
UNI athletic training student becomes life-saving donor for leukemia patient
A swab. A phone call. A life saved.
UNI Master of Athletic Training student Max Mullis joined the National Marrow Donor Program Registry at a campus event last fall, and later received the news that he was a perfect stem cell match for a 73-year-old woman battling leukemia. 
With this news, he traveled to Chicago to donate, where his actual donation time took only 1 hour and 55 minutes, the fastest his team at the hospital had seen. Not only was he a quick donor, but he saved a life.
“When he got the call that he was a match, he didn’t hesitate to agree,” said his mom Nicole on social media. “The timing didn’t fit perfectly for his life, but as he told us, ‘I can hopefully give her one more birthday party or soccer game to attend for her grandchildren. What kind of person would I be if I don’t do this?’”
“I am extraordinarily proud of Max and hope that his story will prompt others to join the registry and say YES when called upon to save a life,” said athletic training program director Kelli Snyder, who was moved to set up registry events on campus when close family friends were in need of a donor – hoping more people would have the opportunity to become a match. “He is a literal lifesaver!”
Mullis is spending the summer with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an athletic training intern, continuing to gain hands-on experience while preparing for a career in athletic training.
Some heroes wear capes. Others wear Panther purple. 💜
