Bone Marrow Transplant Tour

Family Ties

Melissa's father, John-John, donated bone marrow stem cells to Melissa for her transplant. Although only partially matched to his daughter, John-John was able to donate to Melissa, thanks to an innovative process available at UCSF in which alternative donors -- matched unrelated volunteers or partially matched relatives -- are able to safely donate to a child.

"We felt at home. You can really feel the love that they have for their patients," John-John says of UCSF doctors. "They treated us as their family, their friends, and of course, as their patients. We really felt that Melissa was in good hands."

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated October 4, 2007