Following the successful transplant of blood stem cells, 11-year-old James Benzel is ready to face what life has in store for him, thanks to a donation from a man living 4,000 miles away. Recently, James was able to meet Luke Bugdol, the man who saved his life.
Karen Benzel, James’ mother, explained that James was a relatively healthy youth until after he finished his kindergarten year in May of 2018.
“He ended up being life-flighted to Denver, all of his blood counts had dropped to practically nothing,” said Karen. “At that point, his platelet counts were about 1,000. Any platelet count below 20,000, you could just spontaneously bleed to death. When we arrived in Denver, we actually had a doctor meet us in the room within about 15 to 20 minutes of our arrival and let us know that he either had, most likely, leukemia, or aplastic anemia.”
Karen explained that following a series of tests, doctors determined James had a severe case of aplastic anemia.
“We went from relatively normal, ordinary child, to very severe medical concerns that were just brought on by some random virus and that’s how his immune system responded,” Karen said.
A stem cell transplant was the first recommended course of treatment; however, none of James’ five siblings were considered a match. Doctors conducted immunosuppressant therapy, which was ineffective. The Benzels met with a doctor to discuss the options surrounding a stem cell transplant.
Later in 2018, the Benzels were informed that a match was found for James to receive a stem cell transplant through DKMS, an international nonprofit organization that raises awareness about blood cancer and blood disorders and recruits bone marrow donors.
Karen explained that at the time, they had no idea who the donor was.
Bugdol, who has served as a police officer for 13 years after his time in the Royal Navy, explained that he has lost a few of his collegues to cancer, which inspired him to become a donor.
“That’s the main reason why I signed up,” said Bugdol. “It was a quite simple decision, really.”
Bugdol registered with DKMS, and received a swab test in the mail. After completing the test in 2016, he was told he was on the register.
“In 2018, I got an email, phone call and a parcel through the post asking if I’d mind giving some blood samples as I was a potential match,” Bugdol said. “Booked straight in with the local hospital, I went down, they drew the blood and sent them off. I got another phone call to say I was confirmed a match, and would I mind going down for some tests? I went down to the London Clinic where they do all the tests in the UK mostly.”
In December of 2018, James began the preparations to receive the transplant, and on Feb. 5, James received the donor cells from Bugdol.
After a series of tests, it was confirmed that Bugdol was a match to James, and he was given a donation date.
“I came down on the third of February, 2019, I stayed the night in London Clinic being observed, and woke up the following morning at about 7 o’clock; went down to the theater, and about 8 o’clock, they put me to sleep and woke up a few hours later feeling groggy, and my stem cells were on a plane to America,” said Bugdol. “At the time, I didn’t think too much about it, other than they told me it was a little boy from America. That’s all they could tell me, and it was just a case of he needed the stem cells to fight his battle and get better, and I were a match, so why not? Nothing major to it. No lasting effects or anything like that. I never once thought about it in a real sense, other than it’s going to help someone.”
Karen explained that following the transplant, James endured some hardships, but he overcame them.
“James had a pretty rough time of it in transplant and post transplant, and he actually developed some complications post transplant and developed Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, so he ended up staying over in Denver,” said Karen. “We really focused on the short term, how we can best support James, what does he need? But, in the mean time, we were very cognizant to focus on our other children, because we had five other children, and so making sure those children were supported, were able to do the activities that they needed.”
Karen explained that throughout the entire process, she relied heavily on her faith and support from family, friends and the community as a whole.
“We had such great community support,” Karen said. “We don’t know why James got sick. His was just completely random. So, recognizing there was a higher purpose for this, and for allowing James to be sick, we may never know the reason why God allowed that, but know that regardless of that, good could come of that, in a sense. So, for us, we have a very strong faith in knowing that our ultimate goal is to get to Heaven, to end this life and leave it the best we can, so that was really our purpose. We recognize that we are here for a very short period of time. Every day is a gift.”
Karen explained that there is a limitation on contact between donors and recipients of about two years. In March of 2021, Karen decided to try to make contact with Bugdol. The donor also has the right to decline the contact, but Bugdol was open to communication.
“Beginning in May of 2021, Luke then personally reached out to me, and we began actually exchanging emails and exchanging pictures,” said Karen. “When James received his donation, we knew it was a 34-year-old man from the UK. We didn’t know anything else about him.”
Bugdol said that curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to exchange details with the Benzels.
Since that time, the Benzels and Bugdol have remained in contact, growing a stronger bond. In March of 2023, DKMS invited the Benzels to meet Bugdol in person in London at a gala.
“James and I were able to go on stage and briefly talk a little bit, and then they invited Luke up so that they could meet in person for the first time,” said Karen. “Quite frankly, it was fantastic. I don’t think words can adequately describe getting to meet your child’s bone marrow donor in person. I told Luke, and I believe this, that, ‘Thank you is so inadequant, but that’s all I can offer.’ He gave such an amazing gift to my son.”
Bugdol said that meeting James and Karen on stage was a massive moment in his life that will continue to live with him.
“It was a massive thing, the Natural History Museum,” said Bugdol. “There’s no word to say it, hundreds of rich folk who were there to donate money and see an event. For them, looking out, it’s a really good story, it’s good publicity, a really great way to raise funds. I think for me, and probably James and Karen, it was completely opposite. It wasn’t about that; it was the meeting.”
Bugdol said he could feel the emotions, just seeing the Benzels across the room.
“When it came for me to go up on stage, the only thing that crossed my mind was, is, one, I knew I weren’t going to be able to talk much to start with, and not to trip over,” said Bugdol. “Going up on stage, it were nerve-racking just to meet him. It were absolutely amazing, a brilliant event. Being able to see him and meet him, he’s an absolute little character. He’s gone through the hardest part. The emotions that were there were joy and happiness, but also I felt I didn’t know how Karen felt having a child in that condition. They had a major, major battle on their hands, and thankfully, he’s come out the other side.”
James explained that meeting Luke was overwhelming, but that it was a great experience.
James was able to spend time with Bugdol, following an interview. They spent time walking around the gardens at Westminster Palace.
“We got some smoothies, and we were walking and talking about absolutely everything and anything, and nothing in particular,” said Bugdol. “It was just a great feeling to be able to do that.”
James said that a close friend who had moved to Omaha before he became ill helped support him by keeping in contact. He said the hardest part of the whole process was not being able to see people.
Karen and Bugdol both encourage people to become donors. People can find more information at dkms.org. People between the ages of 18 and 55 in general good health may register to donate.
“You never know who it could potentially affect and save,” said Karen. “As a donor, the process is fairly simple to register. If you’ve ever thought of it, please don’t hesitate to register because it truly saves lives. You don’t know who you could save. It could be another child similar to my son. It’s truly life giving and life saving for that recipient.”
“It was so worth it to meet James in the end and see how far he’s come,” Bugdol said. “Absolutely anybody that’s thinking of signing up should because they are so short of donors, and there are people out there that still need those donations. It’s so easy, and it’s relatively painless. It’s such a massive reward.
“Me and James have a bond that not much could break it because he’s got my stem cells going around his body keeping him well,” said Bugdol. “It’s a weird thing, and I don’t think you can describe it, but there is a connection there.”
Today, James is healthy 11-year-old, preparing to go into the sixth grade. He shared his goals for the future.
“My goal is to either become the Pope, or to have a nice family and to treat my kids with some things that I didn’t have.”