
A day after cancer-stricken Jasmina Anema received a bone marrow transplant, pop princess Rihanna said the six-year-old's lucky break proves "miracles do happen."
"I love this little girl, and I am so happy that Jasmina received her transplant today," said the singer, who helped publicize the little girl's plight.
"Miracles do happen," Rihanna told People.com. "Jasmina remains in my prayers for a fast recovery."
The kindergartner received more good news Friday when her body showed no signs of reacting negatively to the transplanted stem cells.
Jasmina, who captivated the city with her can't-lose attitude in the face of long odds, spent a large chunk of the day sleeping, her mother said.
"She's doing great, but she's really wiped out between the transplant, the radiation and all the chemo," said Theodora Anema.
Jasmina will remain at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for 30 days. If doctors deem the transplant a success, she will go home but will remain indoors for six months because of her compromised immune system.
The down-to-the-wire transplant came five months after Jasmina was diagnosed with an especially fatal form of leukemia.
Thousands of New Yorkers turned out for drives sponsored by DKMS, a donor organization, after the Daily News began highlighting Jasmina's tragic situation.
As she waited for a donor to be found, Jasmina endured numerous rounds of chemo and radiation. She also contracted the shingles, which twice delayed her transplant.
Months of uncertainty ended when a near-perfect match was found last month.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/06/12/2009-06-12_rihanna_on_jasmina_anemas_bone_marrow_transplant_miracles_do_happen.html#ixzz0IHA2szT2&C
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