250 walk in NIles Relay, including woman saved by umbilical cord stem cells

NILES

Somewhere out there is a woman who recently gave birth and who is Sarah D’Errico’s lifelong hero - even though the two have never met.

“She gave life twice: She gave life to her child and to me,” the Niles woman said, holding back tears. “Without her donation, I wouldn’t be here.”

D’Errico, who was diagnosed Feb. 20, 2015, with acute myeloid leukemia, was referring to the woman who, after having her baby, donated her umbilical cord. Since no matches were found for D’Errico to undergo a bone-marrow transplant, the stem cells from the woman’s umbilical cord were used last year to treat her cancer, she explained.

It’s unlikely the two will meet, however, because protocol for such a procedure requires confidentiality, D’Errico noted.

To celebrate being cancer-free, D’Errico joined an estimated 250 cancer survivors, caretakers, loved ones and others in Friday’s 2016 Niles Relay for Life at the Infante Wellness Center, 213 Sharkey Drive. The event continues through noon today.

Read more stories of participants in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.