Hey Y’all, for those of you who don’t know I started working with a company back in July called Bazaar Voice. Basically what I do is moderate Reviews, Stories, Profiles, Questions, and Answers on the web for the companies that we all shop at. This is a story for James Avery ( I don’t shop at ) I thought it was pretty good. . . Enjoy!

Story #1 Posted in July

“”Hello, my name is Sarah, I’m 22 years old and from Italy. And I think my story is a bit different from all the others here, because there’s a particular reason why I own a piece of James Avery’s jewelry. In April 2008 I had to stay in hospital for a long time, because since 1995 I’ve been suffering from a special and quite rare form of anemia. I was in hospital a couple of times before but this time the therapy was a bit different. I received bone marrow from an allogenic (unfamiliar) donor. That’s quite a “great event” and I was very surprised when my doctor told me, that “my” donor doesn’t come from Italy, not even from Europe, but from the United States, more precisely from Texas. It’s a woman and I got her bone marrow during the night from 17th to 18th of April. But this life-saving donation was not the only thing I got from her. Enclosed there was a card with her best wishes to me and a pendant in the shape of 2 hearts which form upon a butterfly. She explained to me that the butterfly should symbolize my new life and that the 2 hearts stand for our connection… So far the therapy is very very successful and I’m frequently wearing my donor’s gift. Unfortunately I don’t know her name and not even her address, because this knowledge isn’t allowed. Obviously I at least would like to say ‘Thank you’ and maybe not only this…”"

Story #2 posted in October

“A year ago on Good Friday I gave blood which I hadn’t given in 10 years. I also signed up for the bone marrow registry after I was done. About four months later, they called me to say I was one of their choices. I had some blood work done and a few months later they said they didn’t need me. On Good Friday of this year I decided I was going to give blood again. The week of Good Friday I got a call from the Bone Marrow organization saying they picked me after all. It was in the middle of tax season which is a busy time for me since I am an accountant but they didn’t need me until about April 15th. I had my surgery on April 16th. They said I could send something if I wanted as long as I did send my name and address. I sent a piece of James Avery jewelry of course. It is my favorite. I had just gotten a necklace for Christmas of the two hearts that make a butterfly but also looks like a cross. I thought how perfect to send that. We are connected forever (the two hearts) and she isthe butterfly by starting a new life and the cross can be her guide in her new life. The bone marrow and the James Avery necklace went to Italy. I’m still waiting to hear the results.”