Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts Set To Receive Bone Marrow From Sister

ABC Good Morning America's Robin Roberts announced that she will undergo a procedure to receive bone marrow cells in a transplant operation. Her donor will be non-other than her sister Sally-Ann Roberts who is a news anchor for WWL-TV in New Orleans. Robin Roberts was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and has successfully battled the disease for the past five years.Now, Robin Roberts says that she is battling another medical issue known MDS or myelodysplastic syndrome.  It's a disease of the blood and bone marrow and was once known as preleukemia.

While she and her doctors seem optimistic about her future, there was one thing they all needed to begin this battle and that was an identical match in bone marrow. By the grace of God, that match came from her sister.

Sally-Ann Roberts said that doctors informed the family that the best way to beat this type of cancer is through bone marrow a transplant. The family recently found out that the sisters are a match and with that Robin will not have to be put on a medical wait list for a match.

Sally-Ann will undergo the transplant procedure sometime this fall. For most donors, the procedure is relatively simple, involving the removal of marrow or blood cells from the donor through a needle, according to the National Marrow Donor Program. Most donors return to their normal routine within a week.

Sally-Ann said in an interview that she was tested via a simple mouth swab and found out that she and Robin were an identical match for bone marrow. The Roberts both encourage everyone to get swabbed so that families are not waiting for lengthy period of time to find a match. There is a national registry on file for all medical professionals to find matches in all cases.

Robin Roberts said that when she was battling breast cancer her motivation to beat the cancer came in the form of prayers and thoughts from all of her fans. Now she is asking for the same help, "I ask humbly for more of your prayers and love – as I will keep you in my mine and update you regularly on my condition."

For more on this story go to WWL-TV