Five years after receiving a bone marrow transplant from her baby sister, who was conceived in a controversial bid to save her life, Anissa Ayala-Espinosa has beaten cancer.
Tuesday was the fifth anniversary of the day the leukemia-stricken woman received a transplant from her sister, Marissa-Eve.Five years is considered a milestone after which cancer patients can consider they have conquered their illness.
"I've always believed that I'd make it to this day," said Anissa, 24. "We call it my second birthday."
Marissa-Eve, now 6, knew it was a special occasion. She has repeatedly seen the 1992 NBC-TV movie "For The Love of My Child" that told the family's story.
"She's almost like a daughter. I just have so much love for her," said Anissa, who was married in 1992.
Anissa was diagnosed at 17 with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Her parents, Abe and Mary Ayala of suburban Walnut, began a desperate two-year search for a bone marrow donor.
The Ayalas decided to conceive, even though the baby would have only a 1-in-4 chance of being a compatible donor.
Mary Ayala was 42 when she gave birth.