Jason Cox - Marrow Transplant Survivor/Founder of Marrow Match
Jason’s Story
It is unacceptable that a person in need of a bone marrow transplant will die because their match was not on the registry. Marrow Match™ is committed to raising awareness about the realities of bone marrow donation in order to increase the number of viable, educated, and dedicated donors
These words were spoken by the founder of Marrow Match™, Jason Cox in June 2007. Today this organization, is totally committed to fulfilling the dream and the passion that filled Cox’s heart that day. His drive derives from a very personal experience of facing his own life-threatening illness, Aplastic Anemia. As a last resort, he received a bone marrow transplant at the age of nine in 1986 from James Cox, his oldest sibling. Cox, the youngest of four brothers, had always been a very cheerful boy, and was easy prey in a household full of good-natured teasing and sarcasm. Whether, in part, a product of his early environment, or wholly a mysterious manifestation of the universe’s grand plan, Cox cultivated a personality which went largely misunderstood over the years. Though liked, and immediately befriended by almost everyone he met, there was always something that most people could not put their finger on. Cox possessed a curious passion for life – an unmitigated intention to seek joy with no strings attached. In a day and age where most people were tangled in the joy-draining web of stress, bitterness, fear, and skepticism, Cox simply retained the abilities that came naturally to the chubby, happy, little fellow all those years ago. Those who could not put their finger on that elusive characteristic, treated Cox with either a mildly confused pity or with outright resentment because of their own inability to capture joy for themselves. Cox always exhibited trust and love with the enthusiastic innocence of a child.
As he continued to grow, Cox led a very interesting and inspiring life. After a journey of self discovery that took him to Mexico after college, he returned with a reinvigorated view of life; one that would neither allow him to succumb to the fears and doubts within himself nor the doubts and judgment of others. He embarked on a career in ballet at the age of 26, which is almost unheard of. Of course, the sarcasm and ridicule flowed freely and yet he flourished. Under the guidance of Ms. Judith Gani, whom he has described as a living saint, Cox performed in his hometown of San Antonio as the principle male dancer in a couple of different dance companies. His dancing took him to great heights, from an invitation to study with the Joffrey Ballet to performances in England. The ridicule stopped for the most part, and those who continued found themselves standing alone in their own foolishness. It would not be the last time that happened.
While on a run one day in the summer of 2007, Cox had an epiphany. He would compete in triathlons and raise awareness for the cause very near and dear to his own experience, bone marrow transplantation. He experienced a second miracle shortly after diving full throttle into his triathlon training. June 2008, while on a training ride, Cox was struck by a drunk driver at 65mph and violently thrown from his bike, which was demolished. Amazingly, Cox escaped without serious injury and placed first in a triathlon the very next week. The mission was clearly not over and Cox determination to live on purpose was on fire. He has competed in the Rock -n- Roll Marathon in San Antonio and signed up hundreds of potential marrow donors as a result of his participation in the popular San Antonio event.
He has branded his movement to fully support organizations like DKMS and the National Marrow Donor Program in raising awareness, educating and funding tissue typing screens of potential donors. He wants to bring the same level of energy and enlightenment to the important life-saving choice of marrow donation through highly creative marketing strategies while continuing to build a network of support outside of the traditional methods.
For years now, Cox has been entirely focused on leading Marrow Match™ with passion, creativity, and a bold determination to positively impact the transplant community in addition to others who are seeking freedom from “dis”ease. Along the way, Cox penned a short story titled “Puppet” which he recently performed as a one man live drama. He has a series of short stories in the pipeline as well. Cox intends to highlight these performances and creative pieces through the vehicle of his non-profit work, because he views them as a non-threatening outlet for his awareness campaign, but also as a celebration of the arts and instruments of hope.
Cox stands as an example of what is possible when you possess what the famous transcendentalist Amos Bronson Alcott described as an intuitive self-knowledge. Alcott taught that “spirit is temporarily imprisoned in the illusion of matter and can be freed through this intuitive self knowledge and utter devotion to its own inspirations.” When one heeds to this fierce determination to free the spirit, amazing things can happen. Cox not only possesses these qualities himself, he fully intends to ignite this quality in others because he truly believes we all possess it and, if honest with ourselves, are dying to experience it. Cox is intuitive. He is devoted. He is passionate. He is spiritual. He is free. He is living on purpose, and believes with all of his heart and soul that you can too!