Three Decades Later, South Florida Woman Launches Foundation to Honor Life-Saving Bone Marrow Donation

Liudmila Esquerdo was 19 when doctors diagnosed her with severe aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder that threatened her life. Initial treatment efforts failed, forcing physicians to seek a bone marrow donor match. Her younger sister, Ivette Esquerdo, then just 16 years old, proved to be a perfect genetic match and volunteered to donate her marrow.

The transplant procedure on July 24, 1995, faced critical moments when Liudmila’s body initially rejected the donor marrow. At the last possible moment, the transplant took hold, giving Liudmila what she calls a second birthday. The successful procedure did more than preserve her life—it enabled her to build a family, including daughter Vianca and son Gabriel, who would not otherwise exist.

Determined to honor the second chance she received and the patients she lost during treatment, Liudmila established the Get Redd Foundation in 2018. The nonprofit organization supports individuals affected by rare blood disorders while educating the public about becoming stem cell and bone marrow donors. The foundation hosts annual wellness events featuring fitness and nutrition workshops alongside donor registration drives that require only a simple cheek swab.

This year’s celebration honored bone marrow recipients including Jeff Budnechky, owner of Apocalypse BBQ in Kendall. Budnechky credited his donor with enabling not only his survival but the creation of his business, his marriage, and his daughter’s birth. Local 10 News and the foundation are now offering the first 100 registrants a free pulled pork sandwich at Apocalypse BBQ after completing donor registration.