Introduction
In the face of emotional trauma, healing hearts and saving lives is within our reach. Through resilience, compassion, and collective action, we can overcome adversity, bring hope to others, and emerge stronger than ever. Our scars can be a testament to our strength and our capacity to make a difference. In this episode of the “How to Make Your Mark in the World” podcast, join host Rachel Speaks as she dives into a deeply moving and inspiring conversation with Marilyn Morales. Marilyn, a resilient Latina from Brooklyn, has made an indelible impact as a nurse, speaker, author, and the president of Izzy Legacy Inc. Through her personal experiences and unwavering determination, Marilyn shares her journey of love, loss, and the pursuit of finding life-saving matches for those in desperate need. Prepare to be touched by Marilyn’s powerful story and discover how we can all heal and make a difference in the face of emotional pain and adversity.
Episode Summary:
In this poignant episode, Marilyn Morales opens up about the birth of Izzy’s Legacy Inc., a nonprofit organization she founded to address a critical need in the medical field. After her daughter was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of leukemia, Marilyn’s search for a bone marrow donor revealed a stark reality—there was a low presence of Latino donors on the registry. Determined to save her daughter’s life, Marilyn embarked on a mission to raise awareness, organize drives, and ultimately find a match. Though her daughter received a transplant, her story did not end there. The profound impact of the experience compelled Marilyn to continue advocating for underrepresented communities in need of life-saving matches. Joined by her daughter, who now works with the organization that once helped them, Marilyn sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by Black, Hispanic, and mixed-ethnicity individuals in finding compatible donors. Through her remarkable journey and her commitment to making a difference, Marilyn inspires us all to embrace compassion, unity, and the power of collective action.
Highlights:
1. Marilyn’s Unforeseen Journey: From becoming a nurse at a young age to the life-altering diagnosis of her daughter with a rare leukemia.
2. The Search for Hope: How the scarcity of Latino donors on the registry propelled Marilyn to raise awareness and organize drives to find a life-saving match for her daughter.
3. Beyond Personal Tragedy: Why Marilyn’s mission didn’t end with her daughter’s transplant, leading her to create Izzy’s Legacy Inc. and continue fighting for marginalized communities.
4. Building Bridges of Hope: Discover the importance of sharing stories and raising awareness about the lack of diversity in the bone marrow registry.
5. Healing Hearts Through Words: Marilyn’s journey as an author and the power of storytelling in overcoming emotional pain and finding solace.
6. Inspiring Change: How each and every one of us can make a difference by supporting organizations like Izzy’s Legacy Inc. and advocating for increased diversity in life-saving donor registries.
Tune in to this heartfelt conversation between Rachel Speaks and Marilyn Morales, and be prepared to be deeply moved and inspired by Marilyn’s unwavering determination to save lives and create a more inclusive future
Note: If you are interested in supporting Izzy’s Legacy Inc. or getting involved in raising awareness for the need of diverse bone marrow donors, please visit [Izzyslegacyinc.org] for more information.*
Connect with Rachel:
Website: https://rachelbestspeaks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamrachelbest
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrachelbest/
For Coaching : https://iamrachelbest.com/
Resources:
Izzy’s Legacy Inc.: Izzyslegacyinc.org