Wichita Falls woman finds hope through brother’s lifesaving stem cell donation

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) -Erin Holly said she owes her life to her brother after his selfless decision to donate his stem cells.

Holly was just 21 years old and a junior at Midwestern State University when she was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a rare form of blood cancer.

Nine and a half years later, after receiving a stem cell transplant from her brother in August and completing a recent round of chemotherapy, Holly said each day of recovery brings her closer to feeling like herself again.

She adds that the support from her loved ones and the Wichita Falls community continues to give her strength as she focuses on living life to the fullest once more.

“As far as limitations, I feel like I tried to not let the cancer diagnosis define my life. On one hand, you know, it was a lot of medication, it was a lot of doctor’s appointments, a lot of lab work, and then just the everyday battle of, you know, taking the chemo and dealing with the side effects,” Holly said.

Dealing with cancer is never easy, but for Erin Holly and her family, she says she’s truly been blessed with a strong support system that has rallied around her.

The journey has been long filled with challenges and moments of uncertainty, but in this season of healing, Holly says it’s been both emotional and hopeful.

“I was against the stem cell transplant for a really long time. Even whenever, you know, I knew that’s where we were headed. If it weren’t for my parents, you know, I wouldn’t have been able to do it. You know, there were some days where I didn’t ever think I’d hear the words, no signs of CML,” said Holly. “After my first time in chemo in Dallas, something fell through and we were, you know, scrambling. I remember the doctor walked in and, you know, we could immediately tell something was wrong. He asked how quickly my brother could be there. He was, you know, in Dallas with a backpack by 2:30. So, you know, forever indebted to him and forever grateful for him.”

Holly said she believes she was placed on this earth for a reason and that reason isn’t to be defined by cancer. That mindset has kept her motivated to keep showing up for the people she loves most.

That same love was returned when she was honored at a Legacy High School volleyball game, where family, friends, and the community came out to cheer her on through her recovery. She said it’s moments like those that remind her that God has been present every step of the way.

“I wouldn’t have been able to make it through this without, you know, the Lord. You know, it’s brought me to my knees so many times. So, just keep the faith, keep fighting and if you’re supporting somebody, you know, going through cancer, I’ve had people prop up their phones and send videos and just talk to me like a human,” Holly said. “Tell me what they’re doing in their daily life and, you know, what their kids are doing and so, just showing up and supporting, you know, whatever that looks like for you.”

Holly adds that there are others just like her who need stem cell matches, because finding that perfect match can mean the difference between life and death.

Click here for more information on stem cell donation and how you can help patients like Erin.