BOSTON — Years after a selfless gift, a New Hampshire boy met the woman who saved his life.
There are no words big enough to express gratitude on this scale. Once strangers, now connected for life – thanks to a blood stem cell transplant six years ago.
“You think your child is going to go through this and you’re going to lose them to this horrible disease, and this one person was able to save them,” Jill Smith said.
WBZ has been following Grady Smith’s journey for years. The 13-year-old from Salem, New Hampshire was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called adrenoleukodystrophy, which affects the nervous system. We first introduced him to you back in 2020when he met the stranger from Michigan who saved his life — but it was actually thanks to the pandemic.
“Hero” saved our son’s life
“Grady needed me and there was no way I wasn’t going to do it. That’s just what I do. I was there to help,” Jessica Carroll said in 2020.
And just last June, WBZ cheers for Gradywhile cheering on his beloved Celtics in the NBA Finals — thanks to tickets from Barstool’s Dave Portnoy.
Friday night in New Hampshire, finally, in person, a thank you for Jessica’s selflessness; a celebration of Grady’s survival.
“You can’t really put it into words. It’s more of a feeling. We’re so grateful. We’re excited to meet the person, the hero, who saved our son’s life,” said Jeff Smith.
July McDonald
