Girl, 3, Finds Her 'Perfect Match' Bone Marrow Donor

OAK GROVE, Minn. (WCCO) -- In November, WCCO introduced you to a 3-year-old girl in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

Addy Brynteson had a rare blood disorder. Doctors gave her months to live, unless there was a bone marrow match for Addy.

The odds weren't good. There was just a 25 percent chance a family member would be a match.

"You feel totally helpless," said Addy's mom, April. "You can't do anything for her."

"It's very random and very rare to have someone who is immunologically matched to you in the general population," said Dr. Jakub Tolar of Amplatz Children's Hospital.

But as luck would have it, Addy's 1-year-old brother, Cayden, would turn out to be her hero -- a perfect match.

"There's a match, and then a perfect match. He was perfect," said Addy's dad, Joe. "It couldn't have been any better."

In December, Cayden's bone marrow was removed in surgery. Then a procedure was done to inject his marrow into Addy. A few long weeks followed, and the family wondered if her body would accept it.

And it did.

Addy has gone through chemo and takes medication 10 times a day, but she's at home now and doctors say she has a bright future.

She has her little brother to thank for it.

"I can't imagine that," Joe said. "That bond's going to be pretty deep."

Tolar said thanks to the transplant, Addy basically has a normal life in front of her. Her mom says she wants to be a doctor.

Come Saturday, there'll be a benefit for Addy at Mack and Chester's in Oak Grove to help pay for medical bills. Starting at 4 p.m., it costs $15 to get in and there is free food and a silent auction.