Japan ballet instructor who survived leukemia urges young people to join marrow bank
HATSUKAICHI, Hiroshima -- Childhood leukemia kept Maria Miki away from the ballet she loved for about a year when she was in junior high school. Now a
Maria Miki, a 28-year-old ballet instructor from Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, overcame childhood leukemia to pursue her dream of becoming a ballerina. After battling the disease and surviving a bone marrow transplant, she now urges young people to join the marrow donor registry. At the age of three, Maria started dancing ballet, captivated by the beautiful costumes and joy it brought her.
However, in her second year of junior high school, she began experiencing headaches and vision problems during ballet classes, leading to a leukemia diagnosis. Despite the challenges, Maria recovered and continued her ballet career. She now works as a youth ambassador for the Japan Marrow Donor Program, sharing her story with teenagers and young adults, emphasizing the importance of bone marrow donation.
Maria teaches ballet to students of all ages and participates in ballet concerts, using the opportunities to promote awareness about bone marrow transplants and the preciousness of life.
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