Fullerton officer donates bone marrow to 9-year-old girl

FULLERTON, Calif. (KABC) -- A Fullerton police officer went above and beyond the call of duty to help save the life of a total stranger.

In 2011, Officer Hazel Rios signed up with Be the Match, an organization that matches bone marrow donors and recipients.

Earlier this year, Rios underwent surgery to donate her bone marrow to a 9-year-old girl in South America. She said the pain and inconvenience was totally worth it.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat, definitely. The fact that I have children makes it even easier for me. That decision, that if my children didn't have a match or someone was a match, I would hope that someone would do that for my children or my family," Rios said.

Rios hopes her story will encourage others to register to be a bone marrow donor.