Melissa Juliano

When I was 9 years old, I was diagnosed with leukemia. Doctors recommended us to seek medical help at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas. After many tests, karyotyping, and bone marrow biopsies, I was diagnosed more specifically with acute myeloid leukemia, monosomy 7, prognosis is poor for this particular type of AML – the five year survival rate being 15% and chance of relapse is 78%. The only reason I am here today is because God sent me an angel. Her gift to me has been the most precious gift anybody has ever given to me. Words of gratitude could never encompass my appreciation to her. As I look back to these past 16 years of my life after my transplant and see all of the great things I have been able to do, see and experience, I close my eyes and thank God for my angel and marrow donor, Jeanne Dileo.