A Colleague Comes to the Rescue

These two teachers have more than their jobs in common. Since 2005, when Wisconsin teacher Tom Schaefer “matched” with Iowa teacher Chad Farner (at far right), they’ve also shared bone marrow. Schaefer’s anonymous donation was almost painless—“almost like if you fell down on your butt on ice,” but he still became a hero to Farner, who was diagnosed with cancer in late 2004 and eventually met his lifesaver last year. “Now that I have Tom as a friend, I know that his marrow can only make me a better person,” Farner said.