VIDEO: O'Fallon sisters share thanks and gift of life

ksdk- It wasn't long ago, an O'Fallon, Illinois family wasn't sure their teenage daughter would make it to see this holiday.

Thanks to an amazing gift from her sister, Kelly Eastman is celebrating the thanksgiving at home with her family. 

Two years ago the Eastmans had never even heard of Aplastic Anemia.  Last year, it took over their lives.

"They were sad, but I knew I'd be okay," Kelly Eastman said.

15-year-old Kelly was diagnosed with the rare blood disease in June 2008.  Her only chance for survival was a bone marrow donation.

"As soon as I found out she needed a bone marrow transplant, I wanted to help her," Kelly's sister, Danielle said.  "I wanted to be the one to do it."

It took more than 150 needles and six hours.  Danielle's bone marrow was a perfect match.

"Danielle's blood is running through Kelly," Mary Pat Eastman said of her daughters.

"If she wasn't in me right now, I would probably be dead," Kelly said.

But Kelly wasn't out of the woods.  She spent weeks fighting for her life.  Her sister was right by her side.

"Knowing how much pain she was in the whole time, she could barely eat," Danielle said.  "She couldn't get out of bed.  I knew she was fighting the whole time."

When she wasn't at the hospital, Danielle was raising money and awareness for her sister's disease and donating her hair to Locks of Love.  By Thanksgiving, Kelly was home, but she couldn't eat normal meals and she had to wear a mask.  This year, Kelly's back to 100%.

With both girls home and more importantly healthy, thanksgiving this year at the Eastmans takes on a whole new meaning.

"Having her healthy and the two of them close, and all of us being able to sit down to something we made together is perfect," Mary Pat said.

"Before we were thankful for everything we had, now we're really thankful that she's here and living," Danielle said.

"You always think that your parents are your heroes and they are, but my sister's mine, because she saved my life and you can't give much more than that," Kelly said.