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"They could be from Palmer and they could be from Panama," said her husband, David Monson. "We're thrilled."

Butcher, 51, is scheduled for a bone marrow transplant in early April. She was diagnosed with the disease in early December and is undergoing treatment at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance at University of Washington Medical Center.

Right before the transplant, a final round of chemotherapy will essentially kill her bone marrow. If she responds well, she could be back in Alaska by late summer.

Butcher and Monson plan to return to Alaska for three weeks in March before the transplant.

"Just in time for the start of the Iditarod," Butcher said. The more than 1,150-mile sled-dog race starts March 4 in Anchorage.

According to Monson, the woman who ruled the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in the late 1980s has taken on her affliction with the same determination she used on the trail.

Butcher has drawn strength from fellow leukemia sufferers too, watching them "heroically fighting" their cancers.

"All you can do is hope that all the rest of it goes well for you," Butcher told the Anchorage Daily News.

Butcher and Monson said they are grateful for the outpouring of the more than 1,000 Alaskans who had their blood tested in December to find a match for Butcher and others needing a bone marrow transplant.

Much assistance has come in messages of care and encouragement, from people describing what an inspiration Butcher has been to them.

"I haven't even come close to reading them all," Butcher said. But sometimes "Dave'll just sit and read to me."

Monson said the kindness of friends and strangers has brought home "what a family Alaska is."