Sam Amico
Robin Roberts will never forget Sept. 20, 2012. That is the day she received a bone marrow transplant that saved her life.
Videos by Rare
Roberts, 61, is the beloved anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America, and had been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a rare blood disorder that affects the bone marrow. That diagnosis was delivered just five years after Roberts overcame breast cancer.
But thankfully, Roberts’ sister, Sally-Ann, was a perfect match, allowing Robin to undergo the needed transplant.
Good Morning America Celebrates Robin Roberts
She returned to Good Morning America less than a year later, in February 2013. Since then she has been raising awareness ever since.
“(Ten) years ago…I was waking up in the hospital after receiving a life-saving bone marrow transplant from my loving sister, Sally-Ann,” Roberts tweeted. “Now, more people than ever can be helped by that procedure and there are new and innovative ways to do them. …”
The anniversary edition of GMA shared stories of inspiration and showed “how you can potentially save a life, too,” Roberts wrote.
What Does it Mean to Become a Bone Marrow Doner?
When Roberts returned to the show on February 20, 2013, she made it a point to tell her story. She went on to deliver intimate details about her life-threatening disease. Which was documented in the Peabody Award-winning ABC News, “Robin’s Journey.” Roberts wanted to educate and heavily inform several people, as well as potentially save lives.
Ever since, she continued to report about the blood stem cell transplants. Which can treat or cure more than 75 different diseases. To help her spread her message, GMA partnered with Be The Match to raise awareness of the bone marrow registry. They will create a “One, Match, Second Chance” series from September 20 through FEbruary 20 to help save lives.
