The donation marks the first time that a mainland citizen's marrow has been destined for Taiwan.

Hang, 36, has donated blood several times in her life. A marrow bank was established in Jiangsu in 2003, but few people registered as donors.

Amway, the company for which Hang works, urged employees to register at the bank in 2004, and Hang signed up. She left a blood sample with the bank, joining the ranks of potential marrow donors.

"Everything I knew about marrow donation came from TV and movies," Hang told the Suzhou-based Urban News. "I know that it is important in treating leukemia to find matching marrow donors. The chances of a match are pretty rare, but if there is an opportunity to help others, or even save a person's life, why not do it?"

Having as many people as possible registered will increase the chances that a match might be found.

"The marrow bank in Jiangsu has 1,500 Amway staff members registered as donors," Li Jun, a member of Amway China, told China Daily on Friday. "We are proud that four of them have successfully found matching patients."

Hang first learned that her marrow matched a leukemia patient in Taiwan in August 2005. She was nervous and excited when told that the patient needed her marrow immediately. Health workers explained the donation process to her as well as the potential consequences.

Her father, a doctor himself, said the process was harmless and supported Hang's decision. She was actually a little disappointed when no requests for marrow came through.

Then, in April, she received notice that further examinations and matching tests were needed.

"I thought it was for a different patient, but it turned out to be the same person as two years ago. I am glad, and also very moved, to hear that the person, a 16-year-old girl, has survived all this time."