SAN PEDRO, California, December 3, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – A California mother of three facing leukemia while expecting twins received news last week that may save her life after tens of thousands stepped up to potentially donate bone marrow.
Susie Rabaca was praying for a perfect match so she could stay alive for her kids. She is due December 6 with her twins and needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life.
“I was devastated, emotionally devastated,” she told NBC News, regarding learning her diagnosis months ago.
Rabaca’s sister is a 50 percent match, but doctors said the match wasn't sufficient to treat her cancer, an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia.
She needs a 100 percent match, but Rabaca’s mixed heritage – Latina and Caucasian – has made finding a match problematic. No one from some 30 million people registered worldwide was a complete match for her.
Rabaca, with the help of daughter Riley, made an online plea for more possible donors.
Her story went viral, and since then more than 50,000 people registered with the national marrow donor program Be The Match, a record-breaking number.
She received word of a 100 percent match Wednesday.
“Oh, my God, that to me is beyond amazing,” Rabaca said. “It’s an overwhelming feeling of just joy and happiness. It really is.”
More tests will be needed, but the hope is that she will be able to undergo the transplant after delivering some time in the next week.
“It’s so exciting,” Rabaca said. “It’s the best Christmas gift, it’s everything.”
In a Facebook post Thursday, the pregnant mom said:
“With tears running down my face and my heart full of hope I want to say THANK YOU LORD! And thank you from the bottom of my heart to every single person that has said even 1 prayer for me and my family! Thank you to my family, friends, people around the country that I don’t even know that have shown support and especially that have signed up for BE THE MATCH!!!!! Journey isn’t over but a huge step forward!!! Thankful for you all lots of love! Keep Praying thank you!!!!”