Adriana Avilés was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2015. At just 4 years old, she faced a tough road ahead.
She had a lot of support along the way. Her father is MLB utility player Mike Avilés. The diagnosis came when he played for the Detroit Tigers; his teammates shaved their heads in solidarity with Adriana as she went through treatment.
But in December 2015, a miracle donation helped save her life.
<p>Mike Laureano, a college student at the time, <a href="https://www.insideedition.com/7-year-old-breaks-down-tears-she-meets-bone-marrow-donor-who-saved-her-life-43750" target="_blank">donated bone marrow</a> to help Adriana fight the disease. </p><p><div id="upworthyFreeStarVideoAdContainer"><div id="freestar-video-parent"><div id="freestar-video-child"></div></div></div></p><p>In early 2016, it was announced she was cancer-free, thanks in large part to Laureano's donation. Her journey from diagnosis to recovery touched many people, including her father's teammates.</p><p>"It's a blessing, not only as a teammate, but as a friend," Cleveland Indians outfielder <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-aviles-daughter-cancer-free/c-164853614" target="_blank">Michael Brantley said</a> after it was announced she was cancer-free. </p><h2>In 2018, Adriana got the chance to thank Laureano in person.</h2><p>The teary meet-up in the heartwarming viral video is clearly emotional for both of them.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ3MDM5NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MTM5MzA0NX0.bTIiN2Su6o8MUCIp76thvv0ldaei0sGdLxGQ-kjg3iE/img.jpg?width=980" id="c21b7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="57245b0bc3c98a2b2f7a58e3426ee732" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">All images by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I599guQjp90">Inside Edition/YouTube</a>.</small></p><p>The two were connected through a program called <a href="https://join.bethematch.org/AdriAndMike" target="_blank">Be The Match</a>, which Laureano learned about during a donor drive at his university. </p><p>"Adri might only be 7 years old, but her heart and mind are wise — she knows how incredible this gift of life was," Jessy, her mother, <a href="https://www.insideedition.com/7-year-old-breaks-down-tears-she-meets-bone-marrow-donor-who-saved-her-life-43750" target="_blank">said</a>.</p><p>Be The Match is an organization that runs America's largest bone marrow donor registry and <a href="https://join.bethematch.org/AdriAndMike" target="_blank">works to match potential donors</a> with those diagnosed with blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.</p><h2>Laureano signed up to donate because "it was the right thing to do."</h2><p>"I was a healthy individual living my life," he <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/good-news/7-year-old-breaks-down-in-tears-as-when-she-meets-bone-marrow-donor-who-saved-her-life/ar-AAy2Dz9?li=BBgzzfc&%25253Bocid=wispr" target="_blank">said</a>, "so if I could help allow someone else to do the same then I, as a human being, have an obligation to do so."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ3MDM5NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MzIwNTg4Mn0.tfGpZxWs_WgUyqlp0Fk17llYLZ5oiBXHXRp276s2La8/img.jpg?width=980" id="37b90" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="205875a275197d548d7f85279543139f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Mike Laureano posing with Adriana's parents.</small></p><h2>Everyone needs human connection. Be The Match is a great example of transforming that idea into actionable service.</h2><p>The organization allows donors the opportunity to meet their recipients in person. Understandably, not every donor will want to meet their recipient (and vice versa) — but for those who might otherwise be sitting on the fence, that promise of a real human connection can be a powerful incentive.</p><p>Not everyone can be a <a href="https://join.bethematch.org/AdriAndMike" target="_blank">donor</a>, and that's OK! There are always other ways to help, such as <a href="https://www.cancer.org/involved/volunteer.html" target="_blank">volunteering with the American Cancer Society</a>. Be The Match offers some alternatives as well, which you can check out <a href="https://join.bethematch.org/AdriAndMike" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p>No matter what, the opportunity to see a life changed firsthand is just what the doctor ordered.</p><p><strong>Watch the full video of Adriana and Laureano meeting below:</strong></p><div><div data-card="youtube" data-reactroot=""><div><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="402826a761503f07f9ec124b76a5428f"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I599guQjp90?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></div></div></div>
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