Brody Carls Answers the Call to Be the Match

Sophomore offensive lineman becomes second Leatherneck in as many years called by Be The Match

MACOMB, Ill. – When Brody Carls (Pana/Pana) registered with the Be The Match bone marrow donor program last year, it wasn't about gaining attention but about helping others. Now the Western Illinois sophomore offensive lineman will get the opportunity to do just that.

The process to sign up takes just about 15-20 minutes. After completing the required paperwork, a few swabs are taken from the inside of a donor's mouth and the DNA goes into the national bone marrow registry.

According to BeTheMatch.org, the registry is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), a nonprofit organization that's dedicated to creating an opportunity for all patients to receive the marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant they need, when they need it. It is the largest and most diverse donor registry in the world. Their partnerships with international and cooperative registries provide doctors with access to nearly 24.5 million potential donors and more than 622,000 cord blood units worldwide.

Seventy percent of all patients who need a transplant don't have a matched donor in their family. A patient's likelihood of finding a matching donor on the Be The Match Registry is estimated to range from 66-97%, depending on race and ethnicity. The "Get in the Game" drive, which is a national initiative that began in 2008 by Villanova Coach Andrew Talley, is designed to build the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

After signing up last spring with Be The Match Carls got the call as a possible donor match. After further testing it was determined he would be a perfect match with an older gentleman suffering from Leukemia.

"It was two weeks after my initial phone call they took a blood sample. They did some more tests and said they'd let me know if I would make a positive match or not," said Carls. "It was a week after my test that I got the call back and said they were going through with this."

Football head coach Charlie Fisher praised Brody's effort to step up and help someone in need.

"I think it speaks volumes for the kind of kids we have in our program. Because we have a young man here that is willing to step up and save a life, and help someone have a better quality of life. And that's what Brody's doing," said first year head football coach Charlie Fisher. "You have to tip your hat to him, because not everybody's willing to do that. It's a special opportunity that he's giving back, and it speaks a lot to his character, his integrity, and his willingness to help."

The notoriety that comes with being a donor is the last thing on Carls' mind.

"When I signed up for this I wasn't doing this for the attention. I was doing it for the greater good, to help someone. I wasn't out for the media (attention) and all that," said Carls. "It's unreal, they tell you about the only time you're going to go through with this (donating) is whenever you fill out the paper work and do the process to sign up for it. The chances of you going through with it, is very slim to none. The fact that we pulled two guys out of Macomb, it's kind of crazy."

Now Carls becomes the second Leatherneck in as many years getting the opportunity to donate with the program. Last year, it was defensive lineman JJ Veloz answering the call and helping an infant by going through the bone marrow transplant.

"When I first got the call the first thing I thought of was (JJ) Veloz. He went through it (last fall). When I got back I met up with him and he gave me pointers," said Carls.

With that many donors in the database, and a second member of the football team getting the call as a donor match, Leatherneck Football is really joining elite company.

"The odds are slim to have two matches (from the same football team), but I go back to the type of kids we have and their willingness to be servant oriented and to give of themselves to two people who needed help in a most desperate way," said Fisher. "It's exciting. We're all in Brody's corner with what he's doing and we're going to be pulling for him every step of the way. I just have to tip my hat to him and say thank you."

According to Western Illinois Athletic Director Matt Tanney, "The fact that two football student-athletes in as many years stepped forward and selflessly donated is remarkable. Brody is directly impacting the quality of life for a total stranger, which is pretty special. As a department, we always talk about the positive impact of Leathernecks in the community and on campus, and Brody's donation is another example of such quality contributions by our student-athletes."

This is a story that hits close to home for Brody. More than 15 years ago, Carls' grandfather – nearly the same age as the person he will do the transfusion for - was diagnosed with Leukemia. Brody will travel to Chicago and have the chance to save a life.

"You may get a phone call; you could help save a life. I know everyone's family out there have been affected by cancer, or someone in their life has been affected, so if you get the opportunity, the chance to help, take it and run with it," said Carls.

For more information, visit bethematch.org.

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Players Mentioned

#62 Brody Carls: OL; 6' 5"; Sophomore; Pana

Players Mentioned

#62 Brody Carls
: 6' 5"; Sophomore; Pana
: OL

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Players Mentioned

#62 Brody Carls

Players Mentioned

#62 Brody Carls