Earlier this year, we were moved by the plight of little Jasmina Anema, a 6-year-old with leukemia who needed a bone marrow transplant. While she is still fighting the diseases, Jasmina is having a big week—not only did she reunite with Rihanna on Monday, she is scheduled to meet President Obama today, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The Daily News checked in with Jasmina yesterday and reports that the youngster is very excited about her trip (she said, "I haven't been able to sleep"). But there has also been "troubling news...Earlier this month...a biopsy showed her cancer cells had seemingly disappeared. Her red blood cell count has since dropped, likely indicating the cancer is returning. She was also diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes last week. The chemotherapy treatments and steroids she requires also have caused her cheeks and tummy to swell - and drained her energy." Jasmina's immune system is also very weak, so she wears a mask while traveling, as well as "an IV bag pumping fluid into her veins."
The News also has video of Jasmina discussing her trip and playing with her cat:
Rihanna, who saw Jasmina at her record signing at the Union Square Best Buy on Monday, had previously met with the little girl and urged people to sign up as bone marrow donors with DKMS (it's easy to sign up as a donor—you get a kit to swap your mouth and then you return it). (Jasmina's classmates and teachers at P.S. 41 in Greenwich Village also organized a bone marrow donor drive for her.) On Monday, Jasmina (or her mom) Tweeted, "Just met up with Rihanna and made her sign her newest CD so I can give it to Obama this week when I get to meet him."
Update: Jasmina's visited has been postponed. NY1 reports that she "was rushed to Children's Hospital in Washington this morning, where she remains at this time. Her mother says it is still unclear what caused Jasmina's medical emergency, but she says doctors are looking into whether the little girl suffered a seizure."
