Identical twins donate cells to keep mother alive

A pair of identical twins only four and a half years old have become China's youngest-ever hematopoietic stem cell donors, marking a significant milestone in medical history. The twins donated stem cells in a race against time to save their leukemia-stricken mother.

This case is the first documented synchronized peripheral blood stem cell donation by two genetically matched preschool-age children for an adult recipient.

The unprecedented procedure, performed on March 26 at The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in Changsha, Hunan province, fused cutting-edge medical innovation with an extraordinary display of familial courage as the sisters endured days of injections and a four-hour collection process while clutching crayons and drawings.