Richard Howatch
Richard Howatch of Bainbridge, Ohio is grateful to the doctors at UC Health, the staff at Hoxworth Blood Center’s Apheresis Department, and blood donors for saving his life. As a leukemia survivor, he has undergone extensive treatment including a stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor. Read more to see how Hoxworth has been part of his treatment in several ways.
During an appointment with his kidney doctor in 2023, Richard was told he needed further testing after his bloodwork showed something wasn’t quite right. After additional tests at a hospital in Chillicothe, he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Because his case was too complex for the local hospital, Richard was quickly referred to UC Health for specialized treatment.
“I had the worst of the worst kind of leukemia. They offered a case study. I said yes because I thought maybe some good will come out of it and it did because I’m here today.”
A Stem Cell Transplant Brings New Hope
The clinical trial began in September 2023, and by October, his care team recommended a stem cell transplant. With the help of an anonymous donor, Hoxworth Blood Center facilitated the transplant through its Apheresis Department on December 15, 2023.
Following the transplant, Richard spent a month in the hospital as his bone marrow began producing healthy blood cells. During that time, he also received several lifesaving blood transfusions from Hoxworth donors.
“Without their scientific approaches and all the blood donors, it wouldn’t be possible for me to be sitting here today.”
Cincinnati Becomes Richard’s Second Home
To stay close to his care team, Richard temporarily relocated to the Cincinnati area in case he needed immediate treatment. What started as a necessity quickly became something more.
“People say it’s a miracle. I don’t consider myself a miracle. I just consider myself blessed that I was able to come here to Hoxworth and UC. They’ve done wonders for me.”
Richard now returns to Cincinnati monthly for treatment at the Blood Cancer Healing Center and to monitor his progress. His doctors are hopeful those visits will become less frequent as he continues to respond well to treatment.
Light the Night Blood Drive Inspires Richard’s Family
Each fall, Blood Cancer United hosts “Light the Night” in Cincinnati. The event honors survivors, caregivers and those lost to blood cancer. While Richard had attended in the past, 2025 marked a special milestone as he brought family and loved ones with him.
For the first time in the event’s history, Hoxworth hosted a blood drive on its mobile bus. Although Richard was unable to donate, six members of his family stepped up to give blood in his honor—helping patients just like him.
“If you have the opportunity to donate blood or a stem cell, it’s truly worth doing because you’re giving the gift of life to somebody like me.”
Can you be the Hope for a Local Patient?
Richard is just one of the many cancer patients in the Cincinnati area who rely on blood donations every day. In fact, nearly 25% of the blood supply from Cincinnati area donors is used to support cancer patients.
Every day, Hoxworth needs about 450 donors to meet the needs of local hospitals.
You can make a life-saving difference.
Schedule your donation today and be the hope a local patient is counting on. Your donation stays here in our community—helping neighbors, families, and patients like Richard get a second chance at life.