‘Husker fan with Michigan blood:’ Life-saving donation links two Nebraska and Michigan fans
By Beth Carlson
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LINCOLN, Nebraska (KETV) — On Saturday, two opposing fans took center stage during the Nebraska football halftime show to celebrate the live-saving bone marrow donation one Michigan fan had given to a young Husker fan.
In 2021, Julia Morrison’s family found out that she would need a bone marrow transplant and began their search for a match. They had no idea that she would match with a complete stranger, a Michigan fan and OB-GYN doctor from Ann Arbor, Erica Brockberg.
“I joined in 2013 when I was in medical school, so we were learning about, blood cancers, blood disorders, and heard from patients who had been treated with bone marrow transplant and what that had meant to them. At the end of that lecture, they gave us the opportunity to do a cheek swab, and sign up for the registry,” Brockberg said.
Brockberg donated her bone marrow, and over a year later, finally connected with Morrison. Both Brockberg and Morrison agree there’s a special connection between the two of them, even sporting one half of a matching heart on their shoes during Saturday’s game.
“I knew that person was special,” Morrison said about her donor. “We have little hearts that say the perfect pair.”
“Even though we did not meet for over a year, we knew that we that our donor was going to be special. They were going to give Julia that chance, a second chance at life, a chance to be a kid again. And then after meeting Erica, it’s become everything and more,” Tyler Morrison, Julia’s Dad, said.
On Saturday, the two families, decked out in their respective team’s gear, headed for center field to represent the bond that brought them together.
“It’s just an incredible opportunity to raise awareness to, bring eyes in front of Memorial Stadium. 90,000 fans and, have an incredible, outsized impact,” Tyler Morrison said.
Outside the stadium, volunteers with National Marrow Donor Program met fans willing to sign up to be potential donors.
“It’s heartwarming because I work with patients that may find their second chance at life, and then we work with patients that never do. So today, again, you’re giving hope to our blood cancer patients,” Letica Mondragon, NMDP Account Manager, said.
Even though the score wasn’t what Husker fans were hoping for, there was still a reason to cheer.
“We’re celebrating the bone marrow transplant. that got this little girl out of a life-threatening illness and gave her the gift of life,” Dr. Jeffrey Gold, NU President, said.
If you would like to sign up to be a possible match for a bone marrow donation, you can sign up on their website.
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