ELDRED – A local Leukemia survivor, Lois Fahnestock, age 54, was united with her life-saving bone marrow donor from Germany, 27-year-old Carsten Dierks, on February 15.

Fahnestock was diagnosed with cancer in May of 2020. The day following the diagnosis, treatment commenced. She was a patient at Westchester Medical Center for five months. She underwent blood transfusions, platelets and chemotherapy. Her life was in a state of flux. Not long after, doctors initiated the donation process. 

“My brother got examined because they seek first for blood relatives. He fit the bill, but not exactly,” Fahnestock said.

However, the perfect match was found halfway around the globe in Germany — Carsten Dierks.

“It’s always a good thing to donate and lift up people,” Dierks emphasized. “I think everybody should do it.”

After receiving his bone marrow in September 2020, Fahnestock was able to leave the hospital. 

Unfortunately however, in September of 2023, she received a second diagnosis—her leukemia had returned. 

She resumed therapy and was admitted back into the hospital. She had chemotherapy up until her doctors could get in touch with Carsten again to request that he be her donor once more. He consented, and in November he made another donation—this time, of lymphocytes.

In January 2024, Fahnestock got her first batch of his cells. She currently received two doses. However, it’s still unclear if she will require more.

Carsten and his fiancée came to visit Fahnestock for the first time in the United States on February 15. She waited two years before being given permission to message him on WhatsApp. He had to consent, of which he did, and the two texted each other to arrange for him to come here to Sullivan County. They’ve spent the last two weeks with her family. 

“He came all the way from Germany just to meet us,” Fahnestock noted.“To have a person like that is so rare. It’s amazing.”

They threw a welcome party of over more than fifty family members and friends to kick off their visit. Fahnestock emphasized that Carsten and his fiancée are “great individuals who have joined our family. He really saved my life twice, and I wouldn’t be here without him.”

“I’m just blessed that I had a great donor, it’s amazing,” said Fahnestock. “He is just so caring. To have someone that age to donate bone marrow to someone he didn’t know — It’s amazing is all I can say.”