BRANDON, Fla. — HCA Brandon is hosting a “Be The Match” event Wednesday in an effort to find stem cell donors for patients that are in need of the life-saving care.

Be The Match is a worldwide program connecting patients in need of a stem cell transplant, with donors that do a simple cheek swab to be tested for 12 biological markers.

Donors that are a match to patients in the database can be called in for a simple blood draw, where stem cells are extracted and sent to the recipient for replacement. The Be The Match drive at HCA Brandon is happening on Wednesday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria.

One patient, Misty Rowlison, is currently awaiting a stem cell transplant this week at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Earlier this year, Rowlison was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer.

At the time, she was serving as Chief Nursing Supervisor at HCA South Shore Hospital in Sun City Center.

She said she was getting tired more often, and then in March, got very sick.

A blood panel by her primary care physician revealed the blood cancer.

“I was just completely in shock and I actually just talked to my physician assistant yesterday and I said, 'Maya, I haven't accepted that I have cancer, I just haven't,' I said, 'Is that okay?'” said Rowlison.

She is now prepping for a stem cell transplant, thanks to a 24-year-old overseas donor that turned out to be a rare, perfect match for all 12 biological markers.

Misty Rowlison (center), is currently awaiting a stem cell transplant this week at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. (Family photo)

Like dozens are expected on Wednesday at the Be The Match event in Brandon, he did a quick cheek swab and was put in the database, and when the match was discovered he gave blood.

The stem cells extracted for Rowlison are three times as many as she will need for the transplant.

“He needed to be able to produce 5 to 6 million stem cells that I’ll be getting in my transplant, and he produced 16.4 million,” said Rowlison. “So the good news is we are freezing his stem cells in case, God forbid I ever need them again, I'll still have that perfect match."

Rowlison says doctors are hopeful she can return to work by next April.

She will remain at Moffitt Cancer Center for a month as she recovers from the transplant.

As her and her husband pray for a miracle this week, she says she hopes to meet her donor someday, that is giving her a precious second chance.

“He gives me the chance of life and hope, and you know more time with my family, more time here on earth and more time to service others and to be able to enjoy life,” Rowlison said.