Although Robin Roberts chose to spend the ninth anniversary since the bone marrow transplant that saved her life with her partner, Amber Laign, the “Good Morning America” host has her sister to thank for granting her another year around the sun. Appearing on “Rachael Ray” around the anniversary, Roberts came to tears thinking back at her sister Sally-Ann’s discovery that she was a match for the bone marrow transplant back in 2012.
“My doctor told me I had a year or two to live if I didn’t have a successful transplant,” said Roberts. “It came down to my sister Sally-Ann.” The journalist went on to reveal details behind the moment she called her sister to tell her the good news, and how finding a match was a moment of “exhale” for the star. “I got a chance,” Roberts thought. “I remember calling my sister because then I had to say to her, ‘You are a match. Do you want to go through with this?’ Because sometimes, people will put themselves on the list and say they want to be a donor, and then it gets to that point and they have second thoughts.” The TV anchor continued, “My sister said, ‘Not only is this something I want to do, I feel I was born to be [your donor].'”
The memory of that moment has stuck with Roberts for years, with the celeb opting for positivity each year she is given that “chance.”