Austin, TX — Ahead of Thanksgiving, one Austin woman is sharing her story of survival, gratitude, and the lifesaving power of becoming a stem cell donor.
Jessica Beck first began experiencing severe back pain in early 2024, pain she assumed was sciatica. After multiple doctor visits and being sent home several times, her condition suddenly deteriorated. A friend later found her unconscious in her home, and Jessica was rushed to the hospital. That’s where doctors discovered the real cause: B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer.
Jessica began treatment immediately at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and eventually a stem cell transplant. Her only hope for long-term survival depended on finding a donor match and that match came from within her own family…