PILOT AND HIS STEM CELL DONOR REUNITES AFTER 8 YEARS IN HEARTWARMING MOMENT
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a rare and aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow that United Airlines Captain David Whitson was diagnosed with in 2016 at the age of 44. Only 29.5% of AML patients survive five years after diagnosis, making the odds bleak. Whitson's prospects were even worse. Whitson described the genetic mutation in his cancer as "really, really bad," and a doctor informed him that after one round of chemotherapy, his chances of survival were only 5%.
Fortunately, Allie Reimold, a behavioural science undergraduate student at the age of 18, swabbed her cheek to become a member of the National Marrow Donor Program 12 years ago. This would eventually result in the young woman matching Whitson and giving him healthy blood stem cells, which would ultimately save his life four years later. And now, the two have a friendship that will last a lifetime. Their special bond is beautifully captured in a recent TikTok video that shows their spontaneous reunion while travelling from Houston.
Eight years ago, Reimold, now thirty, who holds a Ph.D. and works as a public health researcher for cancer prevention at the University of California, had no idea who she was donating to, but she was eager to help anyone she could. Reimold's bone marrow stem cells were transplanted into Whitson on December 21, 2016, by medical professionals at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. This replaced Whitson's Type B-positive blood with her Type O-negative blood.
Whitson treated Reimold like family after the successful procedure and learning who his donor was. He showed his gratitude by including her in his United Airlines travel benefits. Then, in December 2024, Whitson was notified that Reimold was also in Houston, getting ready to board an outbound flight, following his piloting of a flight from Dallas to Houston. He hurried across the airport to surprise his life-saving donor on the plane before she took off, eager to reestablish contact. "This is the lady who saved my life," Whitson tells the other passengers after approaching an unwary Reimold for an embrace in the endearing video. He refers to her as a "true hero" and explains that her blood type was a better fit than his own brother's.
Whitson and Reimold hadn't seen each other in person for four years, but they usually catch up on the anniversary of the life-saving surgery. Whitson says, "We both like to joke around, we both like to keep things light, and we both like to be silly with each other."
"Every time I see him, he’s got a smile on his face,” says Reimold, who frequently calls and texts Whitson when she travels. Reimold continues, "It's unbelievable how much time has passed since I made the decision to donate my blood stem cells. Even now, I would definitely do it again."