(June 12) -- A 6-year-old New York City girl received a bone marrow transplant Thursday to treat a rare and deadly form of leukemia, five months after her diagnosis.
Celebrities including Rihanna, Kelly Rowland and NBA stars Chris Wilcox and Paul Pierce encouraged thousands of people to sign up as potential donors for Jasmina Anema.
"It's an overwhelming relief," Jasmina's mother, Thea, told People from her hospital room. "I am incredibly grateful to the donor who gave Jasmina a second chance at life."
The best bets for donors are usually family members and, in the case of Jasmina, a donor who is African-American like her. But Jasmina was adopted, and her mother is white.
An executive with DKMS Americas, the bone marrow donor registry that helped Jasmina find a match, said she "seemed like a hopeless case when she was first diagnosed because she had an aggressive form of leukemia, no potential donors and is African American – which makes it even harder to find a match."
The donor is a stranger, and DKMS said Jasmina and her mother can find out the person's identity in one or two years.
The transplant was postponed twice after a matching donor was finally identified because Jasmina had the shingles, which covered her body with painful blisters. She underwent 10 days of chemo and radiation before the transplant.
"I love this little girl and I am so happy that Jasmina received her transplant today," Rihanna told the magazine. "Miracles do happen ... Jasmina remains in my prayers for a fast recovery."
Jasmina will be hospitalized for a month, and will be allowed to go home if it looks like the transplant has taken, People reported. Then, she would have to be isolated for six months.
"That means no school, no playground and very few visitors," her mother said. "But I can't wait to have her back at home."
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6-Year-Old Girl Gets Marrow Transplant
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