Woman with blood cancer receives stem cell match from donor abroad and meets him at her wedding

Kaedi Cecala, diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, received a matched stem cell donation from a donor in Europe who later attended her wedding; she is now reported to be in remission and is leading a fundraising campaign for blood cancer research.

Kaedi Cecala, a U.S. salon owner, was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and later required a stem cell transplant. A matched donor from Europe was identified during her transplant process. The donor and his wife connected with Cecala in 2025 and traveled to the United States to attend her wedding on New Year's Eve 2025. Cecala is reported to be in remission and has taken on fundraising work related to blood cancer. Key facts: - Cecala was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in July 2020 and entered the transplant process in 2021. - A matched donor in Europe was identified in October 2021 and donated stem cells for her treatment. - The donor, Karol Zwierzinski, connected with Cecala in 2025 and attended her wedding with his wife. - Cecala is now reported to be in remission and is leading a fundraising campaign for blood cancer research and patient resources. Summary: The donor's decision to register and later connect with Cecala created a personal link between donor and recipient that culminated in a public meeting at her wedding. Cecala is reported to be in remission and has been nominated as a candidate for Visionary of the Year through Blood Cancer United while leading fundraising efforts.