Carlee Gibson, 6, was able to donate bone marrow to her sister McKenzie Gibson, 8, saving her life. The two are now helping to raise awareness about the importance of bone marrow donors.
Carlee Gibson said it felt “good” to be able to help her sister.
Jessica Gibson from Princeton, the mother of the two sisters, said McKenzie Gibson was 5-years-old when she found out she had Diamond-Blackfan anemia. “The younger sister donated to the older sister,” Jessica Gibson said. “It’s a real rare blood disorder, where her body didn’t make it’s own red blood cells. She had her first blood transfusion when she was five weeks old. For the next four years she had over 45 more. And then that’s when Carlee was big enough physically to be able to donate the bone marrow for her.”
Jessica Gibson said bone marrow is administered just like a regular blood transfusion. “Through an IV, it just goes right in,” Jessica Gibson said. “It’s real simple. Carlee donated marrow at 21 months old.”
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