Then & Now: Rylie’s 3-Year BMT Anniversary
Three years ago today, HGF’s Director of Programming, Rylie York, received a Bone Marrow Transplant at Texas Children’s Hospital. She was 18 years old and had just been diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the middle of her senior year of high school. Today is what is commonly referred to as her “3rd Blood Birthday.”
Read below as Rylie reflects on her time on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, and what led her to joining our staff. We are so proud to have her as part of our team.
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“”As I reflect on my time as a patient on the Bone Marrow Transplant at Texas Children’s, I am filled with both immense gratitude and deep heartache. I feel gratitude for the doctors, nurses and staff who dedicate every day to saving lives on this unit. I feel gratitude for the lessons and experiences I learned and shared with my own family, as well as other families, as we walked through trials in the hospital walls.
I feel deep heartache for the patients and families today, who are on the same journey that I was just a short three years ago. I feel heartache for the brokenness and darkness that lives on this unit, as children fight for their lives and caregivers spend night after night bedside, praying for a miracle.
My gratitude and heartache quickly led me to become passionate about making a difference for these patients and families. Following my time on the BMTU, I got involved with His Grace Foundation in a deeper way, and have now found myself on staff, following my graduation from Baylor University this past May. HGF is important to me for a multitude of reasons, and I am proud to be celebrating the three year anniversary of my bone marrow transplant as someone who is furthering their mission.
Lastly, I am humbled by the Lord’s provision in my life as He has held my hand through my darkest hours, given me a passion for children battling critical illness, and most importantly, granted me another chance at life and given me the strength to continue forward, furthering his kingdom and the mission of His Grace Foundation.”
Thank you for sharing your story, Rylie.
