One Life Saved,
Thousands Inspired
When a stranger 5,000 miles away gave baby Jada the gift of life, her grandmother embarked on an extraordinary mission—walking across continents to ensure other families would have the same chance.
Jada during treatment at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, 2007
A Fight for Life at One Month Old
It started with a tiny red dot. A nurse at Holy Family Hospital in Spokane noticed the petechiae—small red marks caused by bleeding under the skin—and immediately ordered tests. The results changed everything: at just one month old, baby Jada was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
What followed was an intense battle. Five rounds of chemotherapy. Hundreds of blood transfusions. Months at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. And through it all, a desperate search for a bone marrow match.
Like 70% of patients who need a transplant, no one in Jada's family was compatible. Her only hope lay somewhere among the millions of strangers registered as potential donors around the world.
A Stranger Named Torsten
Five thousand miles away in Germany, a young man named Torsten Huber had read a newspaper article about bone marrow donation. Something moved him to act. He registered with DKMS, the German bone marrow registry, never knowing if he would ever be called upon.
Then the call came. Out of 11 million people on the worldwide registry, Torsten was Jada's perfect match. Without hesitation, he agreed to donate.
"Of course I registered to help somebody. I'm really glad that I could help Jada."
— Torsten Huber, Jada's Donor
At seven months old, Jada received Torsten's gift. The transplant was successful. Today, she is a healthy young woman—cancer-free and thriving, a living testament to the power of one person's decision to register.
Torsten Huber with Jada—the life he saved
A Grandmother's Extraordinary Mission
Jeana Moore couldn't just say thank you. She had to do something—something that would give other families the same chance her family had been given.
Jeana Moore with Torsten during her Sea-to-Sea walk through Europe, 2012
In 2009, Jeana Moore—a grandmother from Deer Park, Washington—laced up her walking shoes and set out on a journey that would take her across continents.
Her first walk: 4,434 miles across America over 15 months, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle to New York City. Walking an average of 12 miles a day, she stopped in communities large and small to share Jada's story and help run donor registration drives.
Then came her Sea-to-Sea walk through Europe: 137 days and over 1,000 miles through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy—from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic. She walked to thank the Europeans who had given her granddaughter a second chance at life, and to inspire more to join the registry.
Along the way, Torsten joined portions of her walk. The stranger who had saved Jada's life had become family.
Become Someone's Life-Saving Match
Every 3 minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer. You could be their cure. Joining the registry is free, simple, and could save a life.
Our Journey
From diagnosis to foundation, a timeline of hope.
A Tiny Red Dot
At just one month old, baby Jada is diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia after a nurse notices a small red mark on her skin.
The Search Begins
Like 70% of patients, no one in Jada's family is a compatible donor. The search expands to 11 million people on the global registry.
A Match in Germany
Torsten Huber, a young man from Germany who registered after reading a newspaper article, is identified as Jada's perfect match.
The Gift of Life
At seven months old, after five rounds of chemotherapy and hundreds of blood transfusions, Jada receives her life-saving transplant.
A Foundation is Born
Inspired by the stranger who saved her granddaughter, Jeana Moore establishes the Jada Bascom Foundation and begins planning an extraordinary journey.
Steps to Marrow: USA
Jeana walks 4,434 miles across America over 15 months, from Seattle to New York City, registering donors and sharing Jada's story in every community.
Sea to Sea: Europe
A 137-day trek spanning over 1,000 miles through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy—from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic—to thank Torsten and inspire European donors.
The Ripple Effect
One family's gratitude has touched lives around the world.
Our Mission Today
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Deer Park, Washington, we continue Jeana's mission with three core goals.
Raise Awareness
Educating communities about how simple registration can be and dispelling myths about bone marrow donation.
Recruit Donors
Organizing registration drives across the country and partnering with registries around the world.
Remove Barriers
Helping cover tissue typing costs so finances never prevent someone from joining the registry.
Be Someone's Torsten
Somewhere in the world, a patient is searching for their match. You could be the stranger who saves their life. Join the registry or support our work today.