Nottingham girl meets stem cell donor who saved her life seven years ago

A nine-year-old girl has met the woman who saved her life with a stem cell donation seven years ago.

Sofia Gardella, from Nottingham, came face-to-face with Dana Ernst Behme for the first time when she flew over from her home in Germany on Friday.

They were discovered to be a genetic match when Sofia was seriously ill with a rare blood disorder as a two-year-old.

Mrs Behme told Sofia she was glad she had been able to help her.

The pair, who were matched by the Anthony Nolan charity, have been in email contact for five years but were united in an emotional meeting as Mrs Behme, 52, stepped off the plane at Birmingham Airport.

Sofia before she made a full recovery thanks to her transplant

Sofia said: "When I was a baby, and when she gave me a bone marrow transplant, I don't really remember her in my head but I'd like to say thank you."

Mrs Behme said: "I was very excited when we came here - there was a lot of adrenaline.

"I am glad I have been able to help you."

Sofia has now fully recovered from the Congenital Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia (CAMT) which meant her body produced a dangerously low number of bone marrow cells of the type needed to make her blood clot.

Anthony Nolan chief executive Henny Braund said: "It's so heart-warming that finally, Sofia and Dana have the chance to meet one another."

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