The story of Anissa Ayala is also the story of Marissa Ayala.

Their story remains fresh in public memory. Seven days before her 16th birthday, Anissa was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Her parents soon learned that Anissa would need a bone marrow transplantation (BMT). When family members yielded no match for Anissa and a search through the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) yielded no potential donors, the Ayalas faced a terrible truth. If Anissa did not find a donor, she would live five years at most.

After numerous marrow drives failed to identify a donor, Anissa’s parents, Mary and Abe, made the courageous decision to try to have a baby who might be a match for Anissa. Against enormous odds  —  and public scrutiny  —  seven days after Anissa’s 18th birthday, the Ayalas received a gift from heaven, Marissa, who was a perfect match for her older sister. On June 4, 1991, Anissa underwent the BMT, with 14-month-old Marissa giving her sister the extraordinary gift of life.

Today, Anissa, 33 and Marissa 16, enjoy a relationship that has deepened with time. As Marissa navigates through the challenges of her teen years, she relies on Anissa as her closest confidant and Anissa bursts with pride seeing her sister develop into a beautiful and compassionate young woman. “She gave me the greatest gift and she has such a heart to make a difference,” says Anissa. Marissa is currently recruiting her friends to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life on a team captained by her mother, Mary.

Anissa has dedicated her life to making a difference as well. As assistant director of donor recruitment in Southern California for the NMDP, she remains an ambassador to the world for BMT patients and their families and she has provided financial assistance to BMT patients through The Anissa Foundation. Creating opportunities for miracles is the Ayala gift of life.