Pilot reunites with the strange woman who saved his life 8 years ago

Life has a way of surprising us, often in ways that feel like scenes straight out of a movie. Capt. David Whitson and Allie Reimold are related in ways that are not defined by blood but by humanity. When Allie boarded United Airlines Flight 2223 in Houston, she had no idea she was about to see David again. This chance encounter was everything wholesome and heartwarming.



In 2016, David was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare and aggressive blood cancer. As David Whitson’s condition worsened in August of 2016, hope seemed to dwindle. Even his own brother’s blood wasn’t a suitable match for the life-saving transplant he desperately needed. His disease was lethal, as statistics from Yale Medicine show that only 29.5% of patients live for at least five years after diagnosis. David had gone through three rounds of chemotherapy but nothing seemed to stop the cells from growing further. But far away, a young college student named Allie Reimold had unknowingly become his lifeline.



When Allie was just 18, she joined the National Marrow Donor Programme by swabbing her cheek during a college fundraiser. When Allie was informed that her stem cells matched a stranger in need, she didn’t think twice, according to CNN. "I genuinely wanted to help someone in this way," she said, explaining that her passion for medicine and public health inspired her decision.

As David looked for probable matches through databases, Allie’s name flashed. Allie underwent a nonsurgical procedure known as apheresis at the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, where her stem cells were collected. These stem cells were then infused into David’s arm at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. The procedure not only saved his life but also changed his blood type from B-positive to O-negative.




Slowly but steadily, David recovered and 18 months later he was ready to re-begin his job flying for United Airlines. During this time, Allie pursued her education, eventually earning a Ph.D. and becoming a public health researcher specializing in cancer prevention at the University of California, Davis.

In 2018, they finally met in person at a Baylor Medical Center event, where they shared their story with patients and staff. Since then they have maintained a friendship, with David even extending his United Airlines travel benefits to Allie, enabling her to fly just like his family comfortably. David often surprises Allie at airports whenever his notifications reveal she’s traveling. One such instance occurred after he piloted a flight to Houston and discovered Allie was boarding a nearby flight.



Though he was on the opposite side of the airport, he hurried to her gate to meet her. After making a few calls, David managed to reach Allie’s plane before it could leave and surprised her. He shared his transplant story with everyone onboard through an announcement before walking over to the passenger who had made it all possible. He said, “Allie is the true hero of this story. I am just glad to be alive.”