Hello gorgeous people!

I write to you from Argentina to tell you my experience regarding the illness of our princess Milagros, who on July 2009 was diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia. Imagine the news for us, it was devastating. My daughter had cancer and until that moment, although we knew what leukaemia was, we didn't know the details and much less that it could be cured.

The day she was admitted they started running tests, including a bone marrow puncture to confirm the illness. When they got the results, two doctors came up to me and gave me the news. My whole world tumbled and what was worst was that my daughter wouldn't be able to survive because she was feeling very bad. I cried a lot and I asked God why her but one second later they told me that she was going to survive and that the type of leukaemia she had could be cured. In that moment, I don't know how or from where, I found the strength to keep going and told myself that my daughter would get cured.

The doctors suggested me to tell Mily the news, for she had a right to know. I wondered how I was supposed to do it. I know my daughter but I couldn't imagine what her reaction was going to be. I told her that she had a blood disease called leukaemia, but nothing else. That same day, in the afternoon, they came with the medicine for the chemotherapy and the nurse told us what it was. My daughter looked at me and when the nurse came she asked me why she needed chemotherapy. I told her it was for the disease I had told her and she said: "So I have blood cancer then!"

My dad had passed away due to cancer a few months earlier and she knew what the treatment was. I told her that she didn't have the same thing as her grandfather, whom she adored, and that her illness could be cured and she knew that I wasn't lying. She was very sure and the only thing that worried her was that she was going to lose her hair.

I was very surprised by the mature way in which she handled everything, always strong in spite of the different treatments, shots and so many other things that come with this disease.

The truth is that my daughter is a great fighter; an example of life. It has been 10 months now since she finished her treatment and she is in complete remission. Every puncture, thank God, keeps giving negative results. There are no signs of the illness left; there are still three punctures left and her monthly check-ups are very positive. I can't be more proud of my daughter: good daughter, great person, awesome student and a huge fighter.

Now we know that leukaemia can be cured! I hope that this testimony helps those of you who are going through a similar situation to have faith.

Hugs,

Liliana (Milagros' mother)

If you want more information about the donation of bone marrow to help many leukaemia patients to have the opportunity of a cure, click HERE. Remember that the donation of bone marrow is altruistic, anonymous, and universal. If you register as a bone marrow donor, you could be making a donation to a person from anywhere in the world. If you want more information, write to donants@fcarreras.es or call us on our free phone number (in Spain) 900 32 33 34.

You could also become a member of the José Carreras Foundation. With a little amount you could help us to continue our research.