The Story of Icla da Silva: A Young Girl's Dream That Continues to Save Lives

DALLAS - EntSun -- Icla da Silva was full of joy. Growing up in a small beach town in Brazil, she loved life…and she loved to dance.

But when she was just 11 years old, life took an unexpected turn. After a dance class, she felt pain in her legs. Soon after, she received a devastating diagnosis—leukemia.

A bone marrow transplant was her only chance for survival, but that required a matching donor. Her brothers weren't a match, and there was no donor registry in Brazil. Determined to save her life, her family sold everything they had and moved to New York City to seek treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering, one of the world's leading cancer centers.

Despite their best efforts, doctors could not find a matching donor for Icla on the national registry. Her family refused to give up. They began organizing marrow drives in Brazilian communities in the tri-state area, hoping to find a match, not only for Icla, but for others in need of a transplant.

While her family searched, Icla remained in treatment. Even as she endured the challenges of leukemia, she brought light to those around her—always smiling, always supporting the other children in the hospital. She dreamed of helping all the other patients she met along the way.

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After two years of courageous fighting, Icla passed away at the age of 13. A matching donor was never found. Before she died, she left a note for her mother: "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I want you to help all of my friends."

That final wish became the mission of the Icla da Silva Foundation. Established in 1992, the Foundation continues her legacy by helping patients overcome barriers to receiving a bone marrow transplant.

Today, the Icla da Silva Foundation provides financial, emotional, and logistical support to patients, especially those from underserved communities, who are struggling to reach a bone marrow transplant.

About the Icla da Silva Foundation
The Icla da Silva Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping patients in need receive bone marrow transplants. Founded in 1992, in memory of Icla da Silva, a 13-year-old girl who lost her life to leukemia, the Foundation supports patients scheduled to receive a transplant by removing barriers to care. With a focus on underserved communities, they provide financial, emotional, and logistical support from diagnosis to recovery.

Learn more at www.icla.org