Colleena Presnell: Twenty Years of Friendship, Hope and Heart 

When Colleena Presnell speaks about bone marrow transplant, she speaks from lived experience. 

In early 2001, Colleena was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. She underwent two bone marrow transplants – a journey that would change her life and ultimately shape the way she would give back to others walking the same path. 

What followed was not simply recovery, but a deep and enduring commitment to supporting patients facing transplant. 

From Patient to Advocate 

Colleena joined the Arrow Board in 2009, bringing with her not only professional expertise – having spent 22 years as a corporate trainer in business communication across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia – but also something far more personal: empathy, insight and a genuine desire to help others feel less alone. 

She became a passionate advocate for Arrow’s patient support programs and an avid fundraiser, consistently championing the importance of practical and emotional care alongside medical treatment. 

But perhaps her most extraordinary contribution began even earlier. 

The Birth of “Gifts of Friendship” 

Around twenty years ago, together with her close friend Kerry Moran, Colleena established the Gifts of Friendship program at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney Haematology Ward. 

The idea was simple and profoundly powerful. 

Each week, Colleena would visit the ward, bringing small gifts, thoughtful gestures and, most importantly, friendship. With the help of generous friends and supporters, she raised funds to purchase items for patients and nursing staff – chocolates, flowers, pies, gift packs and raffle prizes – anything that might brighten a difficult day. 

Over the years, this grassroots initiative grew into something much larger: 

• Weekly hospital visits for two decades 

• Fundraising events, including jewellery parties, raffles and race days 

• Community weekends away in Mudgee that raised $10,000 to $20,000 at a time 

• A curated video library for patients, offering uplifting and meaningful viewing during long hospital stays 

• A herb garden at the hospital 

• Meditation sessions and a podcast launched during COVID when in-person visits were no longer possible 

Kerry, who had no personal transplant experience but a generous heart, supported the program for around ten years – a beautiful example of how community can form around compassion. 

For twenty years, Colleena showed up consistently, quietly and faithfully. 

Her intention was always the same: to give patients hope and to share positive stories in what can be a confronting and isolating environment. 

Sharing Stories to Create Hope 

Colleena also wrote a book, His Bone Marrow, Her Body, sharing her transplant experience with honesty, insight and humour, offering lightness and perspective in the midst of a deeply challenging journey. Through her writing and podcasts, she has continued to provide reassurance that life, meaning and even joy can exist beyond transplant. 

Her storytelling has helped countless people feel seen and understood. 

A Legacy of Care 

As of the end of 2025, Colleena has retired from her weekly hospital visits. While this chapter has closed, the impact of her generosity continues. 

For two decades, she has given her time, heart and energy to improving the transplant journey for countless patients and their families, helping them feel less alone during one of the most challenging times of their lives. 

We are deeply grateful for Colleena’s dedication and generosity, and for the care she has shown to so many within the transplant community. 

Thank you, Colleena, for all you have given.