Little Adriana received a lifesaving gift from a veteran hundreds of miles away!

When 4-year- old Adriana Aviles was diagnosed with leukemia, the chances of finding a matching bone marrow donor were slim to none— until one day, thanks to a veteran soldier who lived hundreds of miles away, Adriana received her miracle!

“Adriana isn’t responding to treatment,” the oncologist said with a sigh, his eyes full of sorrow. “Your little girl’s best option is a bone marrow transplant. We can check the donor registry, but I have to warn you…the odds of a match are very slim.”

When Jessica Aviles’ 4-year-old daughter had begun complaining of pain in her arms and legs four months earlier, the pregnant Cleveland mom had just assumed it was from to playing too rough with her twin sister, Maiya.

But when Adriana’s pain had gotten worse, Jessica and her husband, Mike, had taken her in for tests. Within hours, they’d gotten a diagnosis that rocked their world: Adriana had leukemia.

“She will beat this,” Jessica and Mike had prayed. But now, despite aggressive treatment, it seemed the cancer was winning.

The gift of a lifetime

Four-hundred miles away, retired Army National Guard veteran Mike Laureano was walking to class at Wilmington University in Delaware when a Be The Match sign-up table caught his eye. When he learned that the organization ran America’s largest bone marrow donor registry and that with one swab of his cheek, he could possibly save a life, Mike signed up, thankful for his own good health and hoping to help someone heal. They said the odds of me matching someone aren’t good, he thought. But, if I do get that call, I’ ll know it’s meant to be.

Almost a year later, Mike got a voicemail that made his pulse skip.

“Hey, Mike. This is Lee from the Be The Match registry,” the voice said. “You’re a potential match for a person in need. Please contact us as soon as you can.”

“I feel blessed to have been able to help save Adriana’s life— it’s a true gift to me,” says Mike, with 7-year- old Adriana ( right) and her twin, Maiya ( left)

“To see how full of life Adriana is now just makes it all the more beautiful,” says Mike

Immediately, Mike responded and learned he was a match for a child with leukemia who needed a bone marrow transplant. Privacy laws prevented him from learning anything more, but Mike’s mind spun to an image of his own sweet niece. If it were her, I couldn’t imagine my devastation, he thought.

“I want to help,” he said, his resolve strengthening. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

On December 3, 2015, Mike had the surgery to extract his bone marrow, and the very next day, Adriana had the transplant her family had been praying for. While the family waited at the hospital, a prayer crossed Jessica’s heart as she reflected on the anonymous donor. I don’t know who you are, where you are, she prayed, but thank you, from a desperate mother on her knees.

Three weeks later, Adriana’s body had successfully accepted the marrow and she was released from the hospital. Day by day, she grew stronger, amazing both her doctors and her family in her swift recovery. And by the spring of 2016, Adriana was cancer-free!

Hearts bonded forever

As she watched Adriana flourish, Jessica never stopped wondering about the donor who saved her daughter’s life. And two years later, with the privacy policy lifted, she was allowed access to the donor’s name: Mike Laureano.

Right away, Jessica found him on Facebook and sent a message. You don’t know me, but I’m the mother of the little girl you saved two years ago, she wrote, her hands shaking as she included pictures of Adriana. This is her…thank you so much! Soon Mike responded, and after they shared messages of gratitude and hope, they both agreed it was time for Mike to meet the family. “I can’t wait to hug my hero!” 7-year-old Adriana exclaimed before he arrived, dancing gleefully around the house. But once Mike rang the bell and stepped inside, the little girl began to sob, running straight into his arms. As they hugged, Adriana repeated one phrase over and over again: “Thank you, thank you!” “We’re family now,” Mike says with a smile. “I’m happy beyond words. It’s one thing to make a donation, but then to meet Adriana and see how full of life she is…it just makes it all the more beautiful.” Jessica’s heart also overflows with joy. “Mike is our hero!” she exclaims. “Thanks to him, I get to watch my baby grow up, play dress-up, run, dance…be a happy, healthy girl. We will always be connected. We will be forever grateful.” — Diane Nichols