Robin Roberts Reflects on Her Lifesaving Bone Marrow Transplant: “All You Want Is a Chance”

• Robin Roberts underwent a lifesaving bone marrow transplant to treat myelodysplastic syndrome in 2012—and if she hadn’t, she would have “had a year or two to live.”

• Appearing on Rachael Ray today, the Good Morning America anchor, 60, tearfully remembered the moment she learned her sister could be her donor.

• Roberts celebrated the ninth anniversary of the transplant this week, with fans and celebrities showing their support.

Robin Roberts is now nine years removed from the procedure that saved her life—but the memories of that journey still move her to tears.

During an appearance on Rachael Ray today, the Good Morning America host, 60, recalled the high stakes of her myelodysplastic syndrome diagnosis, which required a bone marrow transplant, plus the moment she learned that her sister would be key to her recovery.

“My doctor told me I had a year or two to live if I didn’t have a successful transplant, and my other siblings were not a match,” Roberts said. “There was not anybody on the list that matched me. It came down to my sister, Sally-Ann.”

After repeated tests to ensure her sister would be a proper fit, Roberts’ doctors delivered life-changing news: “They said, ‘Yes, she’s a match,’” the broadcast journalist recalled. “I cannot tell you—you just exhale, and you’re like, 'I got a chance!' All you want is a chance.”

But it wasn’t as simple as that; Roberts still had to ask Sally-Ann to go through the procedure, which can be painful and taxing. “Sometimes people will put themselves on the list and say that they want to be a donor, and then it gets to that point and they have second thoughts,” Roberts explained. “My sister said, ‘Not only is this something I want to do, I feel I was born to be [your donor],’” Roberts recalled, getting choked up.

“Look at what can happen if we all just have faith in science and faith in each other,” Ray responded, gesturing at Roberts. “Look at the smile, the strength on this human being.”

Roberts knows she was lucky to find a donor in her sister. “Thankfully, a family member was a match, but that doesn’t happen as often as people would think,” Roberts explained. The anchor’s new show, Last Chance Transplant, explores this side of organ donation—the relief people feel when they learn a stranger (or a family member) will save their life.

Roberts, also a breast cancer survivor, celebrated the ninth anniversary of her lifesaving procedure this week, sharing a celebratory Instagram post with her partner Amber Laign. Fans and celebrities alike rallied around the GMA host, sharing words of encouragement and praise.

“God bless you amazing woman! You glow glow glow ✨,” Ilana Glazer commented. “❤️,” shared fellow ABC anchor David Muir. “Congratulations, Robin. Continued health, love, and blessings,” wrote Yvette Noel-Schure.

“Wow!! Thankful to still have you with us. And part of GMA fam (and my morning coffee routine),” one fan commented. “Congratulations! The world is a better and more beautiful place with you in it! 💕💕,” another shared.

There's no doubt that Roberts is a survivor, and we're so glad that she's using her platform to talk about organ donation and advocacy.

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