The Coalville mother of six flew to Washington, D.C., just three days before Christmas to donate bone marrow to a complete stranger.

Peltz has been a regular blood donor for years and in 2017, decided to register with Be the Match, a nonprofit organization for bone marrow donation.

“I just did it so if someone who needed bone marrow or a kidney or something and they couldn’t get it from a family member, if I was a match, I could be that person for them,” she said.

She got the call in early December that she had a match and that person needed her help.

-Submitted photo
Tonya Peltz, of Coalville, is pictured. Peltz traveled to Washington, D.C., to donate bone marrow just before Christmas.

“It’s like a 1 in 500 chance that it would ever happen,” she said. “They said most of the people on the registry won’t ever get a phone call.”

After the phone call came a few weeks of blood work and testing to make sure she was a healthy, viable donor. Then came planning the procedure, which would have to take place in Washington, D.C.

“I was a little nervous trying to figure it out since it was so close to Christmas,” Peltz said.

Luckily, Peltz’s husband had some time off work to help take care of the couple’s children while Peltz was away. She left for D.C. on Dec. 22, had the donation procedure on Dec. 23 and was home at 9:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, just in time to get presents under the tree. Her mother, Ruby Conatser, accompanied her on the trip.

Peltz spoke with The Messenger a week after her donation and she was feeling much better, but she said she was sore for a few days after the procedure.

“They put you under and it’s like they put two holes into your hip, where they take the bone marrow out,” she said. “They take long, hollow needles and take the bone marrow.”

Even with the post-procedure soreness, Peltz said it was more than worth it to give another person a chance at life.

“I was happy, especially at Christmastime, to give someone a chance to be able to live longer,” she said. “Because if they don’t find a match, then that person only has so long to live.”

For now, Peltz’s donation will remain anonymous. She will receive updates on the recipient’s status, like whether they survive or pass away. But in a year, Peltz and the recipient will have the opportunity to contact each other if they wish to do so.

“They make you wait a year just so it’s not so overwhelming for either person,” Peltz explained.

She’s hoping that the recipient of her bone marrow will reach out to her this time next year.

“I’m just hoping to know they’re alive and they’re able to be with their family,” she said.

To register with Be the Match, visit www.bethematch.org.