Two years ago, Patrick McGroarty -- who happens to play on the Salve Regina University football team in Rhode Island -- was among the hundreds of athletes and students who entered their DNA into a pool to potentially help sick people.
Since then, Patrick has been attending classes and playing football. But all of that was put on hold when he learned that he was a perfect match for a six-year-old boy who needed his bone marrow to survive.
Patrick said he was shocked to receive that call -- but didn’t think twice about donating.
So a few weeks ago, he underwent a bone marrow procedure and missed the final two games of the season while recovering. But his team ended up making the playoffs, which will give him a chance to once again join his teammates on the field this weekend.
Patrick says he’s happy to see his small sacrifice make such a big impact because he knows a couple weeks of recovery will affect the six-year-old for his entire life.