With Cindy Crawford's help, 2-year-old Chase Foley got a second chance at life. Now, the boy’s mother, Liz Foley, opens up for the first time in the new issue of Closer about Chase’s long journey ahead and her gratitude to Cindy.

“I started getting inundated with notifications on Chase’s Facebook page,” Liz recalls to Closer, referring to the page she set up for her son, who has acute lymphoblastic leukemia and will undergo a bone marrow transplant. “People all over the country wanted to become a donor.”

The reason behind the flurry of interest was Cindy Crawford’s public plea to help Chase. “The response was immediate,” Liz tells Closer.

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“Chase found a match quickly, thanks to Cindy! I am forever grateful to her. She is now a part of Chase’s story, and I want to wrap my arms around her and say ‘thank you’ over and over.”

But while Liz is thankful Chase found a donor, she tells the mag that he still has a tough road ahead.

“He’ll need radiation and isolation for 30 days,” Liz shares, adding she’s “anxious, scared and nervous — his body could reject the bone marrow.” His transplant is scheduled for August.

For more from Liz Foley’s exclusive interview, pick up the new issue of Closer, on stands now!