Girl, 5, donates stem cells to save her twin brother
Bradley Godish's life has been saved after his twin sister Charlotte 'Charlie' Godish donated her blood cells to cure his leukemia.
Last January Charlie's parents, Brian and Jennifer Godish, asked her if she would donate her blood cells to cure her brother's leukemia.
The softspoken five-year-old replied "Okay, I'll do it. I want to help Bradley. Let me know when you need me," PEOPLE magazine reports.
Bradley had an aggressive form of leukemia that is more common in older adults called acute myeloid leukemia, a strain which is at high risk for a relapse after treatment.
The family from Illinois told PEOPLE, they "wanted Charlie to feel like she was part of the decision-making process and wanted to prep her mentally," says Jennifer.
"So we explained that Bradley's blood was sick and hers was healthy, and she said, 'Let's do it.' She's always been a giving kid."
The transplant took place on February 17.
Charlie experienced only minor pain for a few days afterward, who didn't cry during the process and wore her bandage, wrapped around her back, as a badge of honour.
Six months later Bradley bounced back nicely and are hoping that his illness it will never come back and he'll have a full recovery.
Brian 36, is an account manager for a video and display company and told PEOPLE.
"As a parent, you want to be a hero to your child, but our kids have been heroes to us. And this whole ordeal has brought the two of them even closer."
Although they are twins, alike most twins the pair "they each have very different personalities," says Jennifer, 36, a part-time community college counselor, who also cares for another son, 14-month-old Camden.
Symptoms of the illness came about when Bradley began complaining that his feet hurt last year.
The Godish's took him to see a doctor and were told that he likely had a virus.
Another doctor's appointment later, the new results came out that stating Bradley had leukemia.
Charlie and Bradley have since started kindergarten and are back to their usual activities at home.
National news break – September 2
