15-Year-Old Undergoes Bone Marrow Transplant for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

At age 15, after experiencing intense stomach pains and fainting episodes, Sofia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. She began chemotherapy treatments the next day. Following her first round of chemotherapy, genetic testing revealed she had markers for increased chances of relapse. A bone marrow transplant offered the best chance at preventing relapse.

Just a day before her scheduled bone marrow transplant, the teen's perfectly matched donor became unable to donate. For 48 hours, the team in our Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center worked day and night to find a solution. In the end, they found a hero in the form of Sofia's older sister, Bella, who was a half-match. http://www.choa.org/cancer