Do you ever just long for the simple joys of childhood; the carefree days of summertime, oblivious to the crises and struggles that weigh down so many of us? A life like that of nine-year-old Michelle Koopman.
Michelle: " I swim, I do gymnastics and I'm going to do soccer."
But despite appearances Michelle is no ordinary girl. "Ordinary" is a word that vanished from the lives of her and her family on Mother's Day, 2005.
Suzanne: She wakes up and comes running downstairs and said 'happy mother's day mom. Look at my arm! Her arm was covered in these tiny red dots."
Suzanne Koopman knew something was very wrong. Besides the red dots, her 4-year-old girl had been acting extremely fatigued. And just the day before became bruised simply by being held by her mother. A trip to Urgent Care led to a trip to the hospital and then weeks of blood tests, spinal taps, blood transfusions and bone marrow biopsies. Fear of Leukemia ended with a diagnosis no less serious but much less familiar, Aplastic Anemia.
Suzanne " Aplastic Anemia is complete bone marrow failure. Bone marrow is what makes the blood cells in the body."
Michelle required regular blood transfusions just to survive. But curing her condition required something much more complicated - a bone marrow transplant. Actually, the medical procedure is rather simple. Finding a donor who is a perfect match is not. Testing proved that Michelle's mother, father and brother were not matches. A scan of the entire national database also came up negative.
Suzanne " As a parent waiting for a match to be found was exruciatingly long."
Finally, nearly six months after mother's day, came Michelle's miracle.
Michelle: " Uwe! He lives all the way in Germany!"
"Uwe" is 44-year-old
Michelle: " It makes me feel really good." "why" " Because I knew someone was out there that wanted to help. Not everyone wants to help out. I'm glad there was someone that wanted to help me."
Uve Froelich, a complete stranger, willing to have some of his bone marrow extracted to save the life of a little girl, half a world away. And he did save her life. Nearly four years after the procedure, Michelle now produces her own red blood cells. Uwe says he did it because he would want someone to help if it was one of his children in need. He now keeps a picture of Michelle on his desk in Germany, next to pictures of his own three daughters.
