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8-Year-Old Girl Bursts Into Tears Meeting The Donor Who Saved Her Life

September 11, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Birmingham, Alabama.

A heartwarming reunion took place on Wednesday at Children’s Hospital, where 8-year-old Sophie Cromer finally met her bone marrow donor, Maycie Fuselier, in an emotional moment that left both in tears.

The pair shared a long-awaited embrace, a meeting that marked not just the end of a life-saving journey but the beginning of a lasting bond.

8-year-old girl meets her bone marrow donor / WVTM 13

Sophie, who was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia in September 2022, had only one option for a cure: a bone marrow transplant. After searching for a match, the Cromer family’s prayers were answered when Fuselier, who had signed up to be a donor three years prior, was found to be a match.

Fuselier recalls the moment she received the news. “I was so nervous and called my dad. He said, ‘Pray about it,’ and I did. I’m so glad I said yes.”

In January 2023, Sophie received her transplant, and after nearly two years of recovery, she’s finally able to enjoy the simple joys of childhood again. Her mother, Candace Cromer, expressed her gratitude for the life-saving procedure, noting that Sophie has even started her first dance class this fall—something she wasn’t able to do during her illness due to low platelet counts and bruising.

The reunion between Sophie and Fuselier was filled with emotion.

"I just couldn’t stop crying, and she was crying and looking up at me," Fuselier said, describing the overwhelming moment. It was also a significant event for the hospital, being the first in-person reunion between a donor and recipient since the start of the pandemic.

Dr. Hilary Haines, Sophie's physician and an associate professor at UAB, summed up the impact of moments like these: “These are the days that keep us going through the rough parts.”

Watch the video below!