In the United Kingdom, a young girl is in remission from cancer thanks to her sister's bone marrow donation.
Ruby Lenning, 10, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after collapsing in the school playground in January 2020, according to British news service SWNS.
This rare leukemia required an urgent bone marrow transplant to keep the 6-year-old alive.
After several tests, Mabel Lehning, Lehning's then two-year-old sister, proved to be the "perfect match."
The Leaning sisters' grandmother, Amanda Fawcett, confirmed to SWNS that Ruby Leaning received Mabel Leaning's stem cell treatment.
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| Sisters Mabel Leaning, left, and Ruby Leaning hold hands in the hospital. The younger sister saved the older one with a bone marrow transplant. (Amanda Fawcett via SWNS) |
Ruby Leaning was declared cancer-free in 2022, meaning Mabel Leaning "absolutely saved Ruby's life," Fawcett said.
“She is a happy, normal, healthy 10-year-old girl who loves swimming, dancing and piano lessons.”
“At first we didn't expect it to be a match, but luckily it was, so we couldn't believe our luck,” she said.
“It was amazing – we were so grateful.”
Fawcett remembers the moment her granddaughter was diagnosed with cancer at Sheffield Children's Hospital.
“It’s just a nightmare for every parent and grandparent,” she told SWNS.
"I was in the room with his mother when we found out, and we can't understand anything at all. The whole thing has been heartbreaking."
Fawcett described her granddaughters as “very close” and told SWNS they were “wonderful girls”.
“They have a great relationship,” she said.
“But Mabel will ask to borrow Ruby’s shoes when she realizes she saved her life – and we’re really laughing at how fun and playful that will be.”
Fawcett said Ruby Lenning was “in a wonderful state of remission” and “back to normal”.
“She is a happy, normal, healthy 10-year-old who loves swimming, dancing and piano lessons,” she said.
The grandmother is currently raising money for the Association of Parents of Children with Oncology and Leukemia (PACT), which has supported the Leaning family, according to SWNS.
“None of us could be there for Robbie, which was terrible for us because of the pandemic,” Fawcett said.
“But they’ve been incredibly supportive.”
Fox News Digital has contacted Sheffield Children's Hospital for additional comment.