We were crying & thanking Juleena over & over.. the memories will be with us forever

Schoolgirl Ava bonds with woman who saved her life nine years ago, American came forward after Record appeal for stem cell donor

- BY RUTH SUTER

A BRAVE schoolgirl and her family have been left overcome with emotion after meeting the woman who saved her life.

Ava Todd, 12, met Juleena Master from Oklahoma in Edinburgh last week - nine years after the bighearted American donated her stem cells to the youngster in 2016.

The transplant took place following a worldwide appeal by the Daily Record to find Ava a donor after she was diagnosed with inherited bone marrow failure at three years old.

Our appeal prompted more than 83,000 people to join the stem cell register before Juleena, 47, went on to become Ava's match.

Now, nearly a decade on, Ava, from Lochgelly in Fife, alongside her mum Marie and dad Sam, were overjoyed to meet Juleena, her partner Seth and the couple's son Deacon, who flew from the US to visit her.

The two families met up in Edinburgh last Friday before getting together again in London on Monday.

Mum Marie, 42, told the Record: "When Juleena asked to meet up, I said, 'Whatever we're doing, we'll cancel it and be free'.

"We have replayed this moment in our heads a million times but in reality it was so much more special.

"Ava was very quiet and shy at first, not her usual self, but she was obviously overwhelmed because she suddenly burst into tears. We were sobbing and crying and just thanking Juleena over and over.