McGroarty becomes second Seahawk this year to help save a life

NEWPORT, R.I. – For the second time this year a Salve Regina University football player is helping to save a life. Junior offensive lineman Patrick McGroarty (East Northport, N.Y.) will miss the final two games of his season because he is donating bone marrow to a patient in need.

Two springs ago during Patrick's freshman season he participated in his team's annual "Be the Match" drive, a national registry drive for bone marrow donors to help in the fight against leukemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders. 

The procedure requires a simple swab of cheek cells, administered by the Rhode Island Blood Center for its "Be the Match Registry." Donors determined to be a potential match would be asked to provide a follow-up blood sample to confirm, and then, following an information session and physical exam, it would be "decision time."

Two months ago he received a call that his DNA was a possible match with someone that is diagnosed with cancer. He found out he would have to donate his bone marrow, which would mean he would have to have surgery meaning giving up his final two games of the regular season.  He graciously accepted this responsibility and is currently in the recovery room doing fine with his bone marrow in transit to the needed recipient.

This is the second Salve Regina football player to save a life through their donation in the last four months.

Over the summer junior linebacker Drew Balestrieri (Lynnfield, Mass.) also matched with a patient and underwent the procedure to help save a life.

"It was relatively pain free, other than the initial poke of a needle," said Balestrieri. "I'm just sitting here now watching the World Cup and texting friends and family."

Head coach Kevin Gilmartin has seen seven other players make donations during his time at Salve Regina, but is especially proud of the two this season.

"We have been doing the "Be the Match" drive for seven years now and have saved nine lives," said Gilmartin.  "But this year, we have had two football players selflessly give up their time and bodies to save a life.  There is nothing better in this world than creating a life or saving a life, and for Pat and Drew to save two lives this year is an unbelievable achievement.  And on top of that, Pat had to selflessly give up the final two regular season games of his junior season – I couldn't be prouder to have these types of young men around the Salve Football program."