NY Firefighter Gave Gift of Life

Donor/Recipient Meeting Airs on ABC's 20/20

Seven-year-old Xiomaira Mendez received an early holiday gift this year. The day before Thanksgiving, Xiomaira and her family had the opportunity to thank the stranger who gave her the gift of life when they met her life-saving marrow donor for the first time at the taping of an ABC 20/20 story. The segment featuring Xiomaira and her donor will air at 10 p.m. Eastern time, December 12, on ABC.

Three years ago, life changed for Xiomaira and her family when she was diagnosed with leukemia. She was facing an uncertain future with the possibility that tomorrow may never come. To survive, she would need stem cells to help her body make new, healthy marrow. Stem cells are immature cells that can develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Xiomaira needed a marrow or blood stem cell donor for her lifesaving transplant. Her siblings, including her triplet siblings, were not suitable matches. Xiomaira and her family turned to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) for help. A search of the NMDP Registry of unrelated marrow and blood stem cell donors identified a donor, Brooklyn rescue firefighter, Anthony Caroleo. She received her transplant and is now living the healthy life of a typical 7-year-old.

Because she was sick, Xiomaira was unable to attend school. For the first time this year, Xiomaira experienced the simple joy of going to school. Her hope for the future came from the unconditional giving of a Brooklyn firefighter who gave her the most precious gift of all, the gift of life.

The 20/20 segment will also feature Mark Kwalwasser, founder of the Elaine Diedrich Memorial Donor Program. The Elaine Diedrich Memorial Donor Program has worked with the NMDP and New York Blood Center, an NMDP Donor Center, in the past decade to raise awareness among New York City firefighters and police officers about the need for marrow and blood stem cell donors.

For more information, go to ABC's 20/20 Web page at www.abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/.