DePaul University Athletics
Luuk Wassenaar Comes to the Rescue of a Terminal Leukemia Patient
5/25/2022 12:36:00 PM | MEN'S TENNIS
Donates bone marrow cells hoping to save the life of a 20-year-old battling cancer
CHICAGO – The beauty and goodness of Luuk Wassenaar's very soul flashed with the brilliance of a high-powered beacon lighting up a dark winter's night in war-torn Ukraine.
Confronted by the choice of undergoing some personal hardship and physical discomfort for a chance to save the life of a 20-year-old male patient with terminal leukemia, the two-time BIG EAST tennis champion never hesitated.
"But for the grace of God, that could be me" was a prevailing sentiment for the graduate student from the Netherlands.
And so Wassenaar set off on his mission of mercy that began last fall with an innocent swab after walking by a Be The Match booth on his way to a DePaul volleyball match.
He was running late and didn't need any distractions, but a resourceful and resolute young lady would not take no for an answer.
"I hesitated at first as I was not sure what it was all about and was kind of late for the game," Wassenaar said. "The girl convinced me to swab as it would only take a short amount of time. I swabbed, signed up online and that was it."
Little did Wassenaar nor that Be The Match volunteer realize what a profound impact their brief encounter would have for a courageous young man fighting for his life.
*****
During his winter break back home in the Netherlands, Wassenaar got a phone call from Be The Match about a potential connection.
"I did not get my hopes up yet because the chances of becoming a donor are so small, and many people who are on the donor list do not get matched up for years," Wassenaar said. "It is like finding a needle in a haystack, they told me. The fact that I was a potential match within a couple of months of being in the donor database is already crazy."
Two more follow-up calls ensued---each one bettering the odds for a match. Hope was blossoming within the 2021 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player.
There were detailed, comprehensive questions about his medical history amidst an overarching concern that the donation process would not harm either the patient or the donor.
Next came the blood work at a hospital.
"For patients diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases, a bone marrow or cord blood transplant may be their best or only hope for a cure," said Denise Espinoza of Be the Match. "Yet 70 percent of patients who need a transplant do not have a fully matched donor in their family. They depend on Be The Match and our supporters to find a match to save their life.
"I always tell my donors it's their lottery ticket. The chances of finding a match are nearly impossible, but through generous volunteers like Luuk, we're able to make the impossible---possible!
"You're a real hero. We don't offer any rewards, but I truly feel that knowing you're offering someone a second shot at life is as good as it gets. And that's exactly what Luuk did for his patient.
"Luuk was amazing on our first phone call ready to get things moving immediately. It showed incredible maturity, understanding and humility on his part. He knew what it meant to the patient and his family."
*****
Fingers remained crossed on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
"I was hoping everything would come back positive because I was very invested in the process," Wassenaar said. "They also told me some information about the patient---a 20-year old male with leukemia.
"I thought to myself that I could literally be the one in his position and would be hoping for a match with someone who could save my life."
In late January Wassenaar found out he was a perfect match.
One last time Luuk---are you absolutely certain about going through with this process?
In his native tongue, the response was "absoluut ja!"
There are two ways of donating. Younger children and older patients don't have enough marrow cells in their bones circulating through the body, so they undergo this by surgically scraping off the bone from their hips.
Since Wassenaar is a robust college athlete in peak condition, he went the other route receiving a series of injections over five days that caused his body to overproduce bone marrow cells. It would get more painful as the process continued with the cells so tightly packed in his bones.
Several days after giving the green light, Be The Match moved up donation day from April to February because the leukemia patient had taken a turn for the worse.
"There were two phone calls with Be The Match supervisors before we began the series of injections Feb. 5-9," Wassenaar said. "They listed the many severe side effects which initially scared me a little bit.
"However, I felt pretty good throughout the process. I had a little headache and was feeling a little more tired than usual, but I thought it would be way worse. The injections were administered by a nurse who would come to my apartment every day."
On Feb. 10, Wassenaar arrived at Loyola Hospital at 7 a.m. for more blood work. Because the patient needed a large amount of bone marrow, the normally four-hour process would take six hours.
"I was a little bit nervous, but it felt very similar to when I would play a match" Wassenaar said. "That's the way I mentally approached the donation process as well. The hard part was I had to pretty much lay still the entire six hours.
"The way the process works is that they would take blood from my right arm which would go into a machine that would filter out bone marrow and blood plasma. The leftover blood would be pumped back into my left arm.
"I wasn't allowed to move my right arm as it could puncture my vein. I was allowed to move my left arm which is what I used to text, use the remote, etc. I was allowed to sleep, but I didn't like the idea of falling asleep and moving around while a metal needle could puncture my vein."
*****
Espinoza was deeply touched by her donor.
"Luuk did absolutely amazing!" she said. "He was so open and didn't even think about it twice. Just a very humble young man, and that amazed me for his age.
"He was always ready to do what was necessary. Never once did I encounter any hesitation. He knew what he was doing and fully understood that he was indeed the lifeline for this one patient.
"We even weathered a winter storm during the process and had to work together to make sure he received everything he needed as we moved closer to donation. That included him going above and beyond."
Teammate Tripp Tuff expressed his admiration on behalf of his fellow Blue Demons.
"Luuk has always been a guy dedicated to putting the team above himself and that speaks to his selflessness to serve others," Tuff said. "Although the procedure is only a preliminary step to helping this anonymous donor recipient, it speaks volumes to the kind of person Luuk is, and I couldn't be happier to have a friend like that.
"Luuk is a team-first guy, so I was not surprised when he took the leap of faith to sacrifice his body for someone he didn't know. It speaks highly of his character and to the culture we build within our tennis program."
It was a moment that will resonate with coach Matt Brothers for the rest of his career.
"We put this procedure and Luuk's heath and recovery first," Brothers said. "In the week leading up to the process, he was receiving daily injections. He was allowed to practice for as long as he felt good. We just let his pain and discomfort be his guide and listened to the recommendations from his physicians and our training staff.
"I know his teammates were checking in with him pretty regularly, especially if they didn't see him at practice or conditioning. I tried to help keep him focused on the person's life he was helping to save when he was not feeling well. I remember him saying: 'It's a small price for me to pay.'"
*****
The more you learn about this extraordinary student-athlete, the better you feel.
"Luuk has always been a sensitive guy," Brothers said. "He never thought for one second about not doing this once he was a match. It was never a consideration. He had this unique opportunity to help someone out with something only he could give them and rose to the occasion.
"Luuk is just a standup guy--a good friend and teammate. He was never about wanting any recognition for this. It was done out of the goodness of his heart to simply help someone in need.
"It's been great seeing him remain involved with Be The Match, helping to organize other donation events and continuing to share his story and raise awareness of the need for more bone marrow donors."
DePaul has been doubly-blessed with bone marrow donors. In 2015, former soccer player Jake Douglas was a match for a 59-year-old woman dying of leukemia and the transplant was a success.
"Gosh, it just brings so much hope into our world," Espinoza said about the selfless acts of Wassenaar and Douglas. "I knew that as an athlete this could impact Luuk's game, and he still didn't hesitate. He knew there would be a short recovery time.
"But Luuk had the conviction to move forward in confidence knowing that he wanted to be that true match, that person who could be the patient's lifeline. It shows us all that no matter what age, who we are or where we come from, we all have the power to make an impact that will resound for years to come."
Espinoza said she is not allowed to release any information for one year about the outcome of the transplant. Additionally, the donor and recipient can meet up after one year if both sign a consent form. Douglas was unable to meet his donor recipient.
"Luuk's gift was priceless," Espinoza said. "Truly giving someone a second shot at life."
Wassenaar downplays any talk of heroism, instead choosing words that should make all of us think twice.
"I am super happy that I did it and I would do it again if I get another match," he said. "Unfortunately, I haven't heard anything about the patient. If the transplant was successful, I will have a chance to meet him after a year. I would definitely want to meet the person.
"However, I don't want him to think I am a superhero, if you know what I mean. I know that what I did is pretty unique. But my view on the whole process of donating bone marrow is that it should be a common practice in today's world rather than it being something unique.
"I have noticed that people tend to have a negative view towards donating bone marrow as they think it is an extremely tough and painful process, which is just wrong. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to be part of organizing a bone marrow drive.
"I want to spread awareness by telling my story."
Â
Confronted by the choice of undergoing some personal hardship and physical discomfort for a chance to save the life of a 20-year-old male patient with terminal leukemia, the two-time BIG EAST tennis champion never hesitated.
"But for the grace of God, that could be me" was a prevailing sentiment for the graduate student from the Netherlands.
And so Wassenaar set off on his mission of mercy that began last fall with an innocent swab after walking by a Be The Match booth on his way to a DePaul volleyball match.
He was running late and didn't need any distractions, but a resourceful and resolute young lady would not take no for an answer.
"I hesitated at first as I was not sure what it was all about and was kind of late for the game," Wassenaar said. "The girl convinced me to swab as it would only take a short amount of time. I swabbed, signed up online and that was it."
Little did Wassenaar nor that Be The Match volunteer realize what a profound impact their brief encounter would have for a courageous young man fighting for his life.
*****
During his winter break back home in the Netherlands, Wassenaar got a phone call from Be The Match about a potential connection.
"I did not get my hopes up yet because the chances of becoming a donor are so small, and many people who are on the donor list do not get matched up for years," Wassenaar said. "It is like finding a needle in a haystack, they told me. The fact that I was a potential match within a couple of months of being in the donor database is already crazy."
Two more follow-up calls ensued---each one bettering the odds for a match. Hope was blossoming within the 2021 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player.
There were detailed, comprehensive questions about his medical history amidst an overarching concern that the donation process would not harm either the patient or the donor.
Next came the blood work at a hospital.
"For patients diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases, a bone marrow or cord blood transplant may be their best or only hope for a cure," said Denise Espinoza of Be the Match. "Yet 70 percent of patients who need a transplant do not have a fully matched donor in their family. They depend on Be The Match and our supporters to find a match to save their life.
"I always tell my donors it's their lottery ticket. The chances of finding a match are nearly impossible, but through generous volunteers like Luuk, we're able to make the impossible---possible!
"You're a real hero. We don't offer any rewards, but I truly feel that knowing you're offering someone a second shot at life is as good as it gets. And that's exactly what Luuk did for his patient.
"Luuk was amazing on our first phone call ready to get things moving immediately. It showed incredible maturity, understanding and humility on his part. He knew what it meant to the patient and his family."
*****
Fingers remained crossed on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
"I was hoping everything would come back positive because I was very invested in the process," Wassenaar said. "They also told me some information about the patient---a 20-year old male with leukemia.
"I thought to myself that I could literally be the one in his position and would be hoping for a match with someone who could save my life."
In late January Wassenaar found out he was a perfect match.
One last time Luuk---are you absolutely certain about going through with this process?
In his native tongue, the response was "absoluut ja!"
There are two ways of donating. Younger children and older patients don't have enough marrow cells in their bones circulating through the body, so they undergo this by surgically scraping off the bone from their hips.
Since Wassenaar is a robust college athlete in peak condition, he went the other route receiving a series of injections over five days that caused his body to overproduce bone marrow cells. It would get more painful as the process continued with the cells so tightly packed in his bones.
Several days after giving the green light, Be The Match moved up donation day from April to February because the leukemia patient had taken a turn for the worse.
"There were two phone calls with Be The Match supervisors before we began the series of injections Feb. 5-9," Wassenaar said. "They listed the many severe side effects which initially scared me a little bit.
"However, I felt pretty good throughout the process. I had a little headache and was feeling a little more tired than usual, but I thought it would be way worse. The injections were administered by a nurse who would come to my apartment every day."
On Feb. 10, Wassenaar arrived at Loyola Hospital at 7 a.m. for more blood work. Because the patient needed a large amount of bone marrow, the normally four-hour process would take six hours.
"I was a little bit nervous, but it felt very similar to when I would play a match" Wassenaar said. "That's the way I mentally approached the donation process as well. The hard part was I had to pretty much lay still the entire six hours.
"The way the process works is that they would take blood from my right arm which would go into a machine that would filter out bone marrow and blood plasma. The leftover blood would be pumped back into my left arm.
"I wasn't allowed to move my right arm as it could puncture my vein. I was allowed to move my left arm which is what I used to text, use the remote, etc. I was allowed to sleep, but I didn't like the idea of falling asleep and moving around while a metal needle could puncture my vein."
*****
Espinoza was deeply touched by her donor.
"Luuk did absolutely amazing!" she said. "He was so open and didn't even think about it twice. Just a very humble young man, and that amazed me for his age.
"He was always ready to do what was necessary. Never once did I encounter any hesitation. He knew what he was doing and fully understood that he was indeed the lifeline for this one patient.
"We even weathered a winter storm during the process and had to work together to make sure he received everything he needed as we moved closer to donation. That included him going above and beyond."
Teammate Tripp Tuff expressed his admiration on behalf of his fellow Blue Demons.
"Luuk has always been a guy dedicated to putting the team above himself and that speaks to his selflessness to serve others," Tuff said. "Although the procedure is only a preliminary step to helping this anonymous donor recipient, it speaks volumes to the kind of person Luuk is, and I couldn't be happier to have a friend like that.
"Luuk is a team-first guy, so I was not surprised when he took the leap of faith to sacrifice his body for someone he didn't know. It speaks highly of his character and to the culture we build within our tennis program."
It was a moment that will resonate with coach Matt Brothers for the rest of his career.
"We put this procedure and Luuk's heath and recovery first," Brothers said. "In the week leading up to the process, he was receiving daily injections. He was allowed to practice for as long as he felt good. We just let his pain and discomfort be his guide and listened to the recommendations from his physicians and our training staff.
"I know his teammates were checking in with him pretty regularly, especially if they didn't see him at practice or conditioning. I tried to help keep him focused on the person's life he was helping to save when he was not feeling well. I remember him saying: 'It's a small price for me to pay.'"
*****
The more you learn about this extraordinary student-athlete, the better you feel.
"Luuk has always been a sensitive guy," Brothers said. "He never thought for one second about not doing this once he was a match. It was never a consideration. He had this unique opportunity to help someone out with something only he could give them and rose to the occasion.
"Luuk is just a standup guy--a good friend and teammate. He was never about wanting any recognition for this. It was done out of the goodness of his heart to simply help someone in need.
"It's been great seeing him remain involved with Be The Match, helping to organize other donation events and continuing to share his story and raise awareness of the need for more bone marrow donors."
DePaul has been doubly-blessed with bone marrow donors. In 2015, former soccer player Jake Douglas was a match for a 59-year-old woman dying of leukemia and the transplant was a success.
"Gosh, it just brings so much hope into our world," Espinoza said about the selfless acts of Wassenaar and Douglas. "I knew that as an athlete this could impact Luuk's game, and he still didn't hesitate. He knew there would be a short recovery time.
"But Luuk had the conviction to move forward in confidence knowing that he wanted to be that true match, that person who could be the patient's lifeline. It shows us all that no matter what age, who we are or where we come from, we all have the power to make an impact that will resound for years to come."
Espinoza said she is not allowed to release any information for one year about the outcome of the transplant. Additionally, the donor and recipient can meet up after one year if both sign a consent form. Douglas was unable to meet his donor recipient.
"Luuk's gift was priceless," Espinoza said. "Truly giving someone a second shot at life."
Wassenaar downplays any talk of heroism, instead choosing words that should make all of us think twice.
"I am super happy that I did it and I would do it again if I get another match," he said. "Unfortunately, I haven't heard anything about the patient. If the transplant was successful, I will have a chance to meet him after a year. I would definitely want to meet the person.
"However, I don't want him to think I am a superhero, if you know what I mean. I know that what I did is pretty unique. But my view on the whole process of donating bone marrow is that it should be a common practice in today's world rather than it being something unique.
"I have noticed that people tend to have a negative view towards donating bone marrow as they think it is an extremely tough and painful process, which is just wrong. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to be part of organizing a bone marrow drive.
"I want to spread awareness by telling my story."
Â
Players Mentioned
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