Siblings matches traveled from Ethiopia

Behaylu Barry of Stratham, left, poses with his biological sister, Eden, 9, and brother Rediat, 16, both from Ethiopia, at his home in New Hampshire. Eden and Rediat are matches for Behaylus life-saving bone marrow transplant and they will be tested at Boston Childrens Hospital.Deb Cram/dcram@seacoastonline.com

STRATHAM After weeks of anticipation and a roller coaster of emotions, the countdown is on for 13-year-old Behaylu Barry, who is scheduled to undergo a potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant on Monday.

Behaylu was admitted to Boston Children's Hospital last Monday to prepare for the transplant doctors hope will cure his severe aplastic anemia a disease that struck in February and forced his adoptive family from Stratham to scramble to find a bone marrow donor back in his native Ethiopia.

"He's doing very well. He keeps a very strong, positive attitude," said his adoptive father, Aidan Barry.

Behaylu's 16-year-old brother, Rediat Getachew, was a perfect match and will be the donor for the transplant.

Their sister, Eden, 9, was also a match.

Rediat and Eden arrived in New Hampshire on April 22 in anticipation of the transplant. Both live in Ethiopia and had never left their village until word of Behaylu's illness reached them and they provided cheek swabs to see if they were a match for their brother, who was the only child of six to be put up for adoption by his birth parents.

Rediat and Eden were brought to the United States knowing that only one would be selected as the donor.

After an evaluation, Aidan Barry said doctors decided Rediat should be the donor because of his age and size.

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Behaylu Barry's brother to donate bone marrow for transplant

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