A Marquette University nursing student set to graduate this weekend is already saving lives. Caroline Kohls recently found out she was a perfect match for someone in need of a stem cell donation.For Kohls, a call to help others is something she's always felt in her bones."I always knew I wanted to help people," Kohls said. "I worked as a CNA throughout some of high school, and I just absolutely loved it."But the graduating nursing student at Marquette University never thought her actual bones would help someone in need."In February, I got a phone call saying that I was the match to somebody," Kohls said.Kohls was a bone marrow match for a stranger with blood cancer in desperate need of her stem cells. She had submitted a quick and easy cheek swab back in 2018 to the National Marrow Donor Program, otherwise known as NMDP."A lot of people's only option is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant to help find a potential cure or treatment," Kohls said. "I think that's really what got it for me, just knowing that I could potentially help somebody. It doesn't matter that I don't know them. It's just a good thing to do."For five days before her donation, Kohls injected herself with a bone marrow stimulant to increase her stem cells and then spent a day at the hospital for the infusion clinic.The process was tough, but she knows her sacrifice pales in comparison to what the recipient has gone through."It is a commitment for sure, but the opportunity to potentially help save somebody's life is much greater than any commitment I can make in this situation," Kohls said.This whole process put Kohls in the role of patient, which is a perspective she'll take with her when she starts full-time nursing work at Ascension Columbia Saint Mary's Hospital after graduation Saturday."The nurses were wonderful, and this gave me a good perspective on that," Kohls said. But it also gave me even more compassion for my patients and what they're going through."Kohls is now using her experience to encourage everyone to add their cheek swab to the bone marrow registry, as some patients are waiting years for a match."It's a great thing to do, I would highly recommend and encourage people to join," Kohls said, smiling. "You get the choice to proceed or stop at any moment in time and NMDP is always there for you. There's a huge, massive team, that's helping you prepare and supporting you with people to connect with. You can connect with other donors, and just hear about their stories before you even start." NMDP requires donors and recipients to wait a year before contacting each other. Kohls says she is open to connecting with the patient."I'd be open to it if that's something that they want," Kohls said. "For me, it wasn't about getting anything out of them, and I didn't want them to feel like they owed me anything. So if they would like to in the future, for sure. But I don't think I'll be the one to initiate that."