Better chances for childhood cancer in Brazil

Thaiza's parents lost ground when they received the news that their daughter would need to have a bone marrow transplant when she was just 5 years old. Eric Williamson, a young university student, made a decision and signed up to be a bone marrow donor, what he did not know is that soon he would be called and that his bone marrow would travel more than 7,000 km to save the life of a Brazilian girl. Thaiza was diagnosed with a tumor in her left femur when she was 3 years old, but when she was almost at the end of treatment she developed leukemia because of chemotherapy, which required a bone marrow transplant.

The search for bone marrow donors started, parents and family members were not compatible and her registration went to the international bone marrow donor bank. That's when Eric and Thaiza's lives started to intersect. His bone marrow was 100% compatible and he was young and healthy, the perfect donor. The patient went through the procedure, which was a success, recovered, went back to school, playing and living life like any child at her age.

Thaiza was happy, but she still had a wish to fulfill: to know who was her bone marrow donor. Two years after the procedure, they were allowed to have contact and started to talk virtually. Despite the language barrier, they became great friends and dreamed of the day when they could meet. Past year, another path in her life was traced unexpectedly. Eric came from the United States just to meet her. "It was very exciting. Without a doubt this is a moment that I will never forget”, said Eric. The whole family had the opportunity to personally know and thank the boy, to whom they will be forever grateful for the selfless and voluntary gesture, and who was decisive for her cure.