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Kory was 22 years old and working in his first “real job” out of college as an engineer in Arizona when he developed a sinus infection that would not go away. He also felt tired all the time. After multiple visits to the doctor and several antibiotic treatments, he continued to feel worse, not better.

His symptoms continued for about two months before his doctors finally diagnosed Kory with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). It was October 31, 2007, and he started chemotherapy that same night. During that first treatment, Kory says, he had to wear a pulse oximeter on his finger to measure his blood oxygen levels. The device has a glowing red light on the tip. “I was waving it around saying, ‘E.T. phone home,’” Kory recalls. “That was my Halloween costume. It seemed appropriate.”

Despite the shock and stress of a new cancer diagnosis, Kory’s family got right to business. “My mother, who had worked for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), handled the clinical side, while my dad handled the insurance details,” Kory says. “My brother provided moral support and regular infusions of humor.”  

Kory relocated to Minnesota to be closer to his family and to receive treatment at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview. His search for a donor was not an easy one. His brother was tested but was not a match. A search of the Be The Match registry did not turn up any perfectly matched unrelated donors. Fortunately for Kory, the University of Minnesota is the national leader in the field of umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation. The use of umbilical cord blood is helping make it possible for more people than ever before to have a stem cell transplant. (Learn more about UCB transplant ).

In January 2008, Kory received a double umbilical cord transplant. While the procedure itself was successful, recovery from transplant is rarely easy. Over the last two years, Kory has battled complications ranging from infection to severe nausea related to graft versus host disease or GVHD .

Nevertheless, Kory says he has been supported throughout his recovery by a large network of family, friends and caregivers. “The other day I made a list of all the people who have helped me and it was two pages long. It has not been an easy road. I’m still picking up the pieces, but I have an army of people behind me, and that has made all the difference.”

Today, Kory is preparing to go back to school and to continue the promising career that was interrupted by cancer. He likes to spend time pursuing his interests in photography and cooking. He even has plans to start building a boat.

Kory also wants to share his journey with others to let them know that they can make a difference in the lives of others. “The smallest acts can have profound effects. I am alive because a mother decided to donate an umbilical cord, something that was once considered medical waste.” Because those kinds of efforts, says Kory, “Somewhere, someone is getting a second chance, and words cannot express their gratitude.”

For young people, Kory also has a message he’d like to share. “I was 22 when I was diagnosed with cancer. Before that I was in perfect health… It’s very easy to feel invincible when you are young. It’s one thing to say ‘live in the moment,’ but it’s something I still struggle with, even with my new-found perspective. If you have a dream, go for it. Start working on it right now.  Tomorrow is not a given.”