INUVIK - Crystal Navratil knows about miracles and second chances.

David Unrau, left, of Waterloo, Ont., saved the life of Inuvik resident Crystal Navratil 16 years ago when he donated bone marrow. Navratil had leukemia and without donor bone marrow, she would have died. Unrau travelled to Inuvik for the first time this year to participate in the Relay for Life event on June 25. - Samantha Stokell/NNSL photo

Her miracle provider travelled from his home in Waterloo, Ont., to participate in the Inuvik Relay for Life fundraising event for cancer research and care on June 25. The only reason he came? Because she asked.

"When it comes to Crystal, I would do anything reasonable that she asked," David Unrau said. "To see her and her zest for life, you can't help but smile."

In 1993, doctors diagnosed Navratil with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

At the same time Navratil learned she had leukemia, on the other side of the country Unrau registered with the OneMatch blood and bone marrow donor network.

In December 1993, Navratil's doctor placed her in the network, too, because chemotherapy and radiation hadn't helped at all.

The chances of finding a match and have them registered in the network was one in 650,000, but as it turned out, Unrau and Navratil were a perfect match – six antigens for six.

In January 1994, the transplant happened. Immediately, Navratil improved and the hospital discharged her two weeks later.

"The very next day, I went from down here in hell to just below normal," Navratil said. "I've been given a second chance. I feel, not blessed, but that adversity makes you stronger and that I'm a stronger and better person because of it. I don't regret the things that happened."

As for Unrau, he worried every day about this young woman who received his bone marrow. Not only did it change her life, it changed her blood type and her DNA. She was now a part of him, but he didn't know for one year if she had survived.

"God blessed me to be part of her miracle," Unrau said. "Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. I've missed so many highway exits."

One year after the transplant, Navratil and Unrau had the opportunity to learn each other's identities, but only if both parties agreed. For Navratil, it was a no-brainer.

"I absolutely needed to meet him, the man who saved my life and give him a million thank yous," Navratil said. "I had to look him in the eyes and say 'Here I am because of you.' I needed to know this person."

They've kept in touch for the past 16 years, with a few visits here and there, an e-mail a week and a phone call once or twice a year.

This June is Unrau's first trip to Inuvik and he's getting the grand tour, with river rides, trips to cabins and a drive down the Dempster to Dawson City.

He will participate with Navratil at this weekend's Relay for Life event. Navratil asked him to come so to help they inspire hope in anyone with cancer.

"When you're in those circumstances, you're immersed in it and you have two options. You have a chance to either fight or give up and die," Navratil said.

"A positive attitude is everything. When I was diagnosed, the doctor sat me down and said it's 90 per cent attitude and 10 per cent medicine."

Inuvik's Relay for Life will happen on June 25 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. at the field behind Aurora College. To make a donation to Team Miracle or any other team, visit www.relayforlife.ca and choose Inuvik.

To register as a potential bone marrow or stem cell donor, contact the Canadian Blood Services' OneMatch program.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.