Kansas (WIBW) – At just 26 years old, Colin's sample has fought more than most wills throughout his life. His life has changed forever, but thanks to the support from his family and two strangers, his journey continues.
“To find out that someone saved my son's life twice,” Colin's mother, Katina Vonderschmidt, shared emotionally. “I'm in debt forever from it.”
In 2019, an active 18-year-old Colin sample left the house for the Navy. However, two years later, he was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called platelet anemia and returned him to Kansas for treatment. Within a few months he rapidly declined, and his life relied on bone marrow transplants.
He was fortunate enough to find the perfect match in the National Marrow Program Registry.
“Without his donor, he wouldn't be here today,” emphasized Vonderschmidt.
Colin bounced back through two years of recovery, graduating from K-State and finding his love of life, Codi-his health issues in the rearview mirror.
“It was starting to feel really normal,” Codi Sample said. “It was all really well, like he got his degree and we had a baby.”
They bought the house and entered the final police academy in October 2024 when Colin was blinded by an aggressive leukemia diagnosis.
“It was a really big shocker,” Cody said.
He needed yet another implant. This means another long term search for matching donors.
Colin received his second transplant in July when donor cells from an international match were delivered to Ku Med.
Colin's family shares his story to raise awareness and save others from the same helplessness they experienced.
Colin's sister, Kira Lena and her younger brother, Dylan Sample, are devastated when they learn that they are not suited to him.
“It was a very surreal moment. 'Yeah, there's nothing I can do right now,” Dylan said.
The whole family is enrolled in the National Marrow Donor Program as a way to pay for it beforehand to strangers who could not save Colin's life.
“If someone contacts you and says, 'Hey, we need you, we're a match with you and we have someone who needs a donation,' please let me know when and where,” Keira said.
Every year, around 18,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a life-threatening disease requiring bone marrow or stem cell transplants, but patients can only donate matching relatives, making individuals more likely to participate in the registry.
“You may be the only person in the world that really saves other people's lives. That comes down to that. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who don't play games.
Colin is recovering from 24 hours of care at home, but maintains a positive outlook.
How to support the sample:
Codi got a chance for her and Colin to take part in America's favorite couples competition to win $20,000 for much-needed home repairs to include accommodation, which they won in the quarter final. Furthermore, Chorin's bone marrow transplant journey is something he is passionate about sharing at the national level, and this contributes to that goal.
GoFundMe has been set up for Colin to support upgrading your home at Young Family: Codi Sample Fundraiser by Emme Leupold: Safe Homes in Colin, Navy Veteran, 2x Stem Cell Reciipent
National bone marrow donor program information:
About Us | NMDP (previously a match)
To join the registry: Text Samplestrong to 61474. The kit is free to people aged 18-40. If you would like to talk directly with someone from NMDP, you can contact Tracie Howell, Account Manager, at 785-691-7061.
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