Billie Jo & Tyler Elzy
"It all started with a swab." It may not sound like the beginning of a love story, but for Billie Jo and Tyler Elzy of Vevay, Indiana, it became part of their story. Bringing them closer together through the act of saving lives. Read or watch more to see how their willingness to save lives in 2018, carried through to 2026 when they were called upon to donate stem cells.
It All Started With a Swab
It all started with a simple cheek swab.
It may not sound like the beginning of a love story, but for Billie Jo and Tyler Elzy of Vevay, Indiana, it became part of their story. Bringing them closer together through the act of saving lives.
In 2018, the couple took their first step toward becoming stem cell donors at a local fundraiser. They swabbed their cheeks and joined the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), formerly known as Be The Match, not knowing if they would ever be called.
“My husband’s aunt has an organization called H.O.P.P.S. that helps kids. They actually provided the test swabs,” explains Billie Jo. “It was convenient at the time, so we both did it and sent it in—not really expecting anything. If we could help, we would.”
For years, they didn’t hear anything.
Then, in October 2025, seven years later, the call came.
A Personal Reason to Give Back
For Tyler, the decision to join the registry was deeply personal.
“My Aunt Kathy had brain cancer, and she passed away,” he says. “A lot of people helped her, and I just feel like this is a way for me to give back. It’s always something good for me to do: to help people.”
That mindset would soon lead both Tyler and Billie Jo to become lifesaving donors.
Answering the Call Together
In early 2026, both were identified as matches for patients in need of stem cell transplants. This is a rare and powerful coincidence for any couple.
Billie Jo traveled to Chicago for her initial donation. Just weeks later, her recipient needed additional T cells. This often happens when the patient’s immune system needs a boost. That’s when Billie Jo came to Hoxworth Blood Center.
Tyler also completed his donation -also at Hoxworth- only a few weeks after his wife. His donation is helping a patient somewhere in the world get a second chance at life.
Why Stem Cell Donation Matters
Every three to four minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer. For many, a blood stem cell transplant is their best or only chance at survival. These transplants can treat or cure more than 75 diseases.
Hoxworth Blood Center works alongside the NMDP and the Gift of Life Donor Program to collect stem cells from generous donors like Billie Jo and Tyler. These donations help patients both locally and around the world.
Making an Impact Close to Home and Beyond
At Hoxworth, the Apheresis Team and Cellular Therapies departments play a critical role in these lifesaving procedures.
In 2025 alone:
- 387 stem cell products were collected for local patients
- 106 stem cell products were collected for patients around the world through NMDP and Gift of Life
- 10 bone marrow products processed and shipped to patients globally through the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)
- 52 bone marrow products processed and delivered to patients locally for transplants.
Each number represents a life touched and often, a life saved.
Hope for a Future Connection
Like many donors, Tyler hopes to one day meet the person whose life he impacted.
“I hope one day, if they or their family want to reach out, we get to meet,” he says. “If I was in their shoes, I’d want to meet the person who helped. But that’s up to them.”
Answer the Call to Save a Life
Billie Jo and Tyler didn’t expect a cheek swab to change their lives or someone else’s. But years later, that simple decision made all the difference.
You could be that difference for someone else.
Joining the stem cell registry is quick, easy, and could give a patient their only chance at survival. Like the Elzys, you may not get the call right away. But when you do, you could help save a life.
Whether you’re a regular blood donor at Hoxworth or ready to take the next step through stem cell donation, you have the power to give the gift of life when it’s needed most.