Medical Weight Loss Clinic employee redefines the concept of giving back with stem cell donation

At Medical Weight Loss Clinic, we know how much our employees care about our patients and the many ways they give back to the community. Recently, one member of our Ann Arbor-based staff made a truly selfless and inspiring decision.

Ariel DeYoung, a current Medical Weight Loss Clinic employee, recently volunteered for a peripheral stem cell transplant procedure in order to donate her healthy stem cells to someone in need she has never met.

Three years ago, Ariel signed up with DKMS, an international non-profit organization dedicated to fight blood cancer and blood disorders. She received a cheek swab test in the mail, sent it in and was added to the donor registry. Ariel was inspired to take this step because her own mother’s life was saved from a much-needed bone marrow transplant.

In August, the first call came in. Ariel was a potential match for someone with Acute Myeloid Leukemia who was in need for a life-saving stem cell transplant. Additional testing and blood work followed and by September Ariel was told she was indeed a match and asked to donate.

“Of course, I said yes!” she shares. “This person now has a second chance at life!”

Ariel is now recovered from her procedure, which was on Oct. 20, 2022 at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. She said the entire process went smoothly from the nurses at UM Hospital to the DKMS staff communication.

Medical Weight Loss Clinic Staff Member Ariel DeYoung is Be the Match donor.

“I encourage everyone that's thinking about signing up to do so!” she says. “Each person that signs up could be the one person someone else needs to save a life. Being called to donate is rare. Only 1 in 430 people are called. You could be on the list for 20 years and then get called. It is a very smooth process and very rewarding.”

Ariel took only a day and a half off of work. She returned to a surprise.

“Mary (Pierce), the Ann Arbor clinic manager is awesome,” Ariel shares. “She decorated my room for me so when I came back, I felt super special.”

Many of the patients were aware of the reason Ariel had been out of the office and were inquisitive to learn more about her experience.

“They thought it was really amazing what I did,” she says.

And our patients weren’t the only ones!

Ariel DeYoung shares why others might consider signing up to donate stem cells to those in need, too.

 Regional Manager Laura Shelley, was also quite impressed with Ariel’s decision to donate stem cells and said she hopes it helps shine a light on the need for others to do the same.

“It is truly a heart-warming story and I’m so proud of her for going through all of this,” Laura said. “We have amazing people working for Medical Weight Loss Clinic. We care about our patients - and even those we have never met.”

Learn more about the need for stem cell donors by visiting bethematch.org or www.dkms.org today.

Reach out to us at Medical Weight Loss Clinic to learn more about how to lead a healthier life. Sign up for a free consultation atmwlc.com.

*Results may vary. Minimum purchase required. Some restrictions apply and discounts may not be used for online purchases.
When you enroll in a Medical Weight Loss Clinic program, the length of your program will be determined by you and the staff based on the amount of weight you want to lose and how quickly you want to lose it. Your actual weight loss will be determined by many factors, including, but not limited to: your medical circumstances, the plan you choose, adherence to the meal plan and use of nutritional supplements. Your goal and program duration information will be given to you in writing at the time of enrollment. As your program progresses, the rate you lose weight may change and you will have the opportunity to discuss this at every daily visit with your weight loss consultant, where changes to your meal plan and/or program can be made.