As a U.S. Marine serving in Afghanistan, Joshua Cohen saved the lives of several of his comrades. Returning to the United States, he never thought he’d have that opportunity again. But three years ago, he signed up to be a stem cell donor.
“I was at a blood drive and they had a booth,” he said. “All it took was a cheek swab. I figured why not?” He promptly forgot about it.
But last September, representatives from The Gift of Life contacted him to say he was a possible match for a 49-year-old man. He went in for a blood test; by December it was confirmed. And on January 19, the day before spring classes were to begin at MCC, he donated the stem cells. It was a process that took 6 hours.
“They told me the guy was going to die if I didn’t,” Mr. Cohen said. “I was happy to do what I could. If I was in that situation, I hope someone would do that for me. For a couple of days of discomfort, it was worth it.”
He has no idea who the recipient is, only that the operation was a success and he is out of the hospital.
Joshua Cohen joined the Marines in April of 2008, looking for some direction in life.
“It seemed like a great adventure,” he said. He grew up, saw combat and received Top Gunner, the Good Conduct Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon. Currently, he is in the reserves.
“We are very proud of all of our nursing students,” said Nancy Berger, the program director. “But Josh, who has given selflessly of himself to others – including those he does not know – is the epitome of what a nurse should be, someone who cares about others and wants to better their lives. He is a true humanitarian.”
Mr. Cohen enrolled at Middlesex in 2012. He received a degree in January in Liberal Arts General with highest honors, and he will graduate in January of 2016 with a degree in Psychology and in May of 2016 with a degree in Nursing. He’d like to work as a nurse for the Veterans Administration.
And what’s he going to do this summer?“Between school, donating stem cells and the military, I’m ready to take a summer off,” he said.
