Teen with leukemia meets life-saving donor for first time in emotional New York encounter: 'It's a godsend'

For Elijah John, an 18-year-old leukemia survivor, it was an encounter he wasn't sure would ever happen.

The Brooklyn native and his family gathered at Manhattan's Pier 57 in Chelsea on a sunny Saturday afternoon in August to meet Nicholas Miranda-Newberry, the man who donated his bone marrow to save the teenager's life three years ago.

“It’s a godsend. That’s the best way to say it: Nicholas is a godsend,” said Elijah’s father, Karl John, a Brooklyn property manager.

John was first diagnosed with leukemia in November 2020, at age 14, after contracting a toothache that wouldn’t heal. A trip to the dentist eventually led to a blood cancer diagnosis and a handful of subsequent surgeries, his family told The Post.

“He was always healthy, it wasn’t something he was born with,” John’s father said. “We started to lose hope, to be honest with you.”

“The first four months, the chemo didn’t work,” said John’s mother, Chawn Tucker, a pharmacy technician in Queens. “It was one of the scariest times of my life. And as I watched Elijah go through chemo, lose his hair and get sick, I just kept praying.”

“I felt like I was locked in a room for months,” John said of the chemotherapy process. “I didn’t let it affect me, but I ended up missing my friends. I acted like nothing was happening. I didn’t talk to anyone – I didn’t want anyone to feel bad for me.”

According to the family, John's hair and teeth fell out after their son began chemotherapy — all before Miranda-Newberry was identified as a match and gave John a “second chance at life.”

Miranda-Newberry, 25, a self-proclaimed traveler who lives in Chicago, first signed up to donate bone marrow at age 18 after seeing an ad on social media for DKMS, the renowned blood cancer research nonprofit.

He first took a cheek swab, which he mailed to the organization. Four years later, Miranda-Newberry — who has also been donating plasma for two years — was contacted by DKMS and told he was a match for John.

“The bone marrow transplant was difficult, but I managed to get through the whole process and I believe that [that by] “By doing this, I was able to save a person’s life,” the donor told the Post. “I would honestly do it again.”

“I've always been a person who wants to be able to help people like that,” he added.

Shortly before 5pm on Saturday, as John anxiously walked across the roof, he caught his first glimpse of the man who had saved his life. A big smile spread across his face and he held Miranda-Newburry in his arms for several minutes.

The emotional moment brought tears to John's parents, who just a few years ago feared they would lose their son to blood cancer.

“[It’s] “It’s incredible,” added Tucker, 51. “I couldn’t even describe this moment right now. I didn’t think this day would come – I couldn’t wait to meet Nicholas.”

The teenager presented Miranda-Newberry with a plaque expressing his gratitude on Saturday, which read in full:

“Nicolas, [taking] “I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your incredible generosity in donating your bone marrow to me. Your selfless act has given me a new lease on life and I am extremely grateful. Your kindness and willingness to help a stranger in need is truly inspiring. Because of you, I have the chance to look forward to a healthier future. Thank you for being my hero.”

The meeting comes as John begins a new phase of his life: The 18-year-old cancer survivor and aspiring engineer begins his studies at New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn next week.

Miranda-Newberry is also celebrating a new chapter, having recently celebrated six months of marriage.

The John and Miranda-Newberry family said the donation experience forged a lasting bond not only between Elijah and Nicholas, but between the two families. John's family is celebrating the anniversary of the bone marrow transplant today to mark the Brooklyn teen's “new birth.”

“Elijah and Nick – it’s a wonderful story but unfortunately it doesn’t happen often because there aren’t enough people signing up, so moments like this where you can actually see the full circle from signing up to donating to actually making an impact, it’s really inspiring for a lot of people,” said Maya Ward, DKMS spokesperson.

An American is diagnosed with some type of blood cancer every three minutes, the spokesman noted, adding that 70 percent of people with blood cancers must rely on donors outside their family.

“We hope that [John’s story] “This motivates more people to do free cheek swabs and sign up because it really can save a life,” Ward added.

Adults over the age of 18 can register to join the donor pool and request a collection kit online through DKMS at dkms.org.

“I wish there were more people like Nick [sic]” added John's father.

“I hope other families get this chance. I know a lot of people are going through the same thing we are. God bless Nick.”