The “amazing” donor who saved the life of Ava Stark wants to travel from America to meet the Fife youngster.
Juleena Masters donated her stem cells allowing six-year-old Ava, of Lochgelly, to undergo a transplant in November 2016.
Ava’s mother Marie was elated to track down Juleena, of Oklahoma, on Facebook, and sent her a scrapbook detailing her daughter’s recovery.
Juleena, 41, told the Daily Record she wants to visit Fife to give Ava a “big hug”.
She said: “Ava is such a brave little girl and it was a great privilege to be able to help.
“I’d absolutely love to meet her in person and give her a huge cuddle. Knowing Ava is thriving and that I played a part in that is just amazing.”
Juleena, a social worker for military veterans, responded to a global search for a match for Ava, who was diagnosed with inherited bone marrow failure in April 2016.
More than 80,000 people registered for the Anthony Nolan donor register in response to an appeal for Ava, who was kept alive with blood and platelet transfusions as she awaited her transplant.
The Anthony Nolan Trust had permission to give the donor’s details to Ava’s family after two years.
Until Marie got in touch Juleena had no idea of the condition of the then-three-year-old to whom her bone marrow had gone.
The two mothers – Juleena to five-year-old Deacon – exchange messages regularly and Marie has sent videos of Ava.
Juleena hopes Ava’s story will inspire others to register to donate.
She said: “I think people are put off because they think it will hurt but that’s just a myth.
“Surely if it can save a life then it’s worth doing. My little boy has heard all about how brave Ava is and wants to meet her too.
“They would get on great and hopefully we can make that happen soon.”
