In 2015, what began as a simple decision at the St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend would ultimately reshape Jordan Booth’s life in ways she never could have imagined.
She signed up for the bone marrow donor registry almost casually — motivated by a lifelong desire to help others and years of donating blood and platelets through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The odds of ever being matched with a recipient were incredibly small. She was told it would likely never happen.
Just four months later, Jordan’s phone rang. She was a perfect match.
“There is a 0.037% chance of that happening,” Jordan said. “I knew immediately there was no backing out. I had to commit.”
At the time, Jordan knew little about what the donation process would entail. Doctors explained there were two types of donation methods: peripheral blood stem cell donation, similar to platelet donation, or a mature bone marrow harvest from the pelvis, a procedure generally reserved for critically ill patients or young children. She later learned that her recipient was a 26-year-old man named Brock battling severe aplastic anemia.
The gravity of the situation settled in quickly.
“I felt so lucky to be able to be a match for someone, and I took that role very seriously,” Jordan shared.
The preparation process was extensive. Over the course of several months, she underwent more than 50 blood draws, repeated health screenings, monthly pregnancy tests, and eventually traveled to Emory Healthcare in Atlanta for the donation procedure itself. In total, doctors harvested 1.2 liters of bone marrow from her pelvis.
Physically, the recovery was less painful than Jordan expected. But it was far more exhausting.
“The worst part was how tired I was,” she recalled. “I donated a little extra to science, so I lost a lot of blood volume in a short amount of time.”
The soreness in her lower back, headaches, and fatigue forced her to slow down. But during that recovery process, she discovered something that would become a defining part of her life: Pilates.
At the time, Jordan was working at ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and was introduced to the practice through a wellness event. What initially began as gentle rehabilitation quickly evolved into something much deeper.
“I found my old studio and consistently went five to six days a week for years,” she said. “The movement, the heat, the ability to modify — it was all great for recovery.”
But Pilates offered more than physical healing. Before the donation, Jordan admitted that fitness was often measured by calories burned or intensity levels. Afterward, her understanding of strength fundamentally changed.
“When you experience an opportunity like this, knowing your body is being used to help someone else, you become much more connected to it and thankful for it,” Jordan shared. “I prioritize intentional movement now.”
Pilates became both a refuge and a way to process grief. Although the transplant itself was successful, Brock later died from complications caused by a severe kidney infection after months in the hospital. The loss devastated her.
“It’s a weird position to be in, grieving someone you never met, but who carried your DNA,” she said. “I tried so hard for him.”
She still keeps in touch with Brock’s widow, mother, and brother annually. Nearly a decade later, the connection remains deeply meaningful. Jordan shared that she tries to honor Brock by continuing to give as much of herself as she can.
That philosophy eventually extended beyond donation and into teaching.
After spending 12 years as a caregiver for her grandmother, another pivotal moment arrived in 2021 when Jordan’s grandmother lost much of her mobility following COVID. Seeing that loss of independence firsthand profoundly impacted Jordan’s outlook on movement and aging.
“She knew how much I loved Pilates, and she encouraged me to teach,” Jordan shared.
Jordan completed her teacher training just two months before her grandmother passed away.
Today, Jordan has become one of Memphis’ most beloved instructors, even earning the honor of Memphis Health + Fitness’ Best Group Fitness Instructor last year. Yet despite the accolades, Jordan’s approach remains grounded in accessibility, joy, and compassion.
“I remember going to my first class alone and being so nervous,” she shared. “I try to create an environment where everyone feels welcome.”
Her classes are intentionally lighthearted. Jordan likes to joke at the beginning of her classes that “we aren’t training for war; it’s just Pilates.” She also feels strongly that movement should be fun.
That philosophy resonates deeply with her students, many of whom come seeking more than a workout. They come for connection, confidence, healing, and community — the very things Pilates once gave her.
Now, as Jordan marks 10 years since her bone marrow donation and 10 years of her Pilates practice, she reflects on the unlikely path that connected the two.
“I feel very proud,” she said. “We’ve had dozens of people join the donor registry after hearing my story, and three have already matched successfully. That alone feels like one of the greatest things I could ever do.”
Jordan’s message to others is simple: Move your body, care for your health, and if you can, consider becoming a donor.
If her story proves anything, it’s that a single act of kindness can ripple outward for years, changing countless lives along the way.
“We are capable of incredible resilience and goodness.”
To learn more about becoming a donor, visit Nmdp.org/get-involved/join-the-registry.
By Beth Wilson
Photo by Tindall Stephens
