Michael and Michael

Michael Striegold joined Gift of Life's Registry in June of 2004 when he came upon a testing table at the Israel in the Ballpark event hosted by Jewish Family and Children's Services at SBC Park (home of the San Francisco Giants).  After losing his grandmother to leukemia, Michael felt it was an honor to join the Registry, and truly hoped he would be able to help another patient in similar circumstances.  He says that when he first learned he was a match, just four months after joining the Registry, he was excited and eager to be a part of something so important and special. 

Michael is 30 years old and lives in Stockton, California.  He works as a mortgage consultant and enjoys coin collecting.  He hopes that by meeting his recipient publicly, he will inspire many others to join the Registry and become donors as well!

After they were collected in October of 2004, Michael's blood stem cells made the very long trip to Sydney, Australia, only to inhabit the body of another Michael.  Twenty-five year old Michael Faust, who suffered from acute lymphocytic leukemia, says that after learning his sister, Chloe, was not a close enough match for him, "My family was devastated.  I didn't believe it would be possible to find someone who would be willing to donate."  After months of searching, a match was found.  According to Michael, "I thought it was absolutely remarkable that someone would go through all that for a complete stranger."

When the blood stem cells arrived at St. Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst, Michael says he "felt very anxious, but also very relieved.  I knew this was the start of a new life for me."  He described his transplant experience as very tough and grueling, but is proud that he left the hospital just three weeks later.         

Michael lives in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, just a few minutes from Bondi Beach and the Sydney Opera House.  After posting an undefeated record in tennis throughout high school, he attended Arizona State University on a tennis scholarship where he studied Business Marketing.  He currently works as Business Development Coordinator for Leisure Link, a leading distributor of HEAD Tennis and Squash Racquets and Accessories throughout Australia.

Michael is thrilled to be meeting his donor and said, "My family and I feel utterly blessed at the opportunity to meet such an inspiring individual. Words can not explain the love and admiration we have towards this truly outstanding individual who has allowed me to progress through adversity and be here today to tell my remarkable story.  This is the opportunity of a lifetime."