A simple college registration led to a life-saving stem cell match for 12-year-old Sameeksha, a thalassaemia patient. On a special occasion, she met her stem cell donor, who gave her a second chance at life, Dilip, a 27-year-old IT professional from Karnataka.
Marking this special moment, DKMS announced free HLA typing for all children below 12 years of age in India who are suffering from transfusion-dependent thalassaemia.
“I didn’t think much of it when I registered,” said Dilip. “She is so full of life. Until now, she was just a match on paper. Meeting her today makes everything real.” The meeting was filled with quiet emotion as two lives, once connected only by a genetic match, finally came face to face.
“I feel happy now. I can play and go to school like other children,” said Sameeksha, smiling.
“We waited and hoped for years for a donor. There were moments when it felt uncertain, but we never gave up. Meeting him today is something we had only imagined,” said Sameeksha’s father.
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“In India, patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face substantial challenges in accessing high-end treatment for life-threatening diseases like blood cancer and other blood disorders due to the enormous costs involved. Guidance on treatment options and potential sources of financial support are the most critical factors affecting access to treatment in India. The DKMS Access To Transplant program aims to remove this barrier to the life-saving treatment as in Sameeksha’s case. Efforts of this program have illuminated the path towards a brighter future for many patients like Sameeksha, providing them with the promise of a healthier life," said Patrick Paul, Executive Chairman, DKMS Foundation India.
What is Thalassemia?
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder. According to Mayo Clinic, the condition causes the body to have less of the protein haemoglobin than usual. Haemoglobin is present in red blood cells and allows them to carry oxygen. Not having enough hemoglobin or red blood cells can lead to a condition called anaemia.
“When Sameeksha first came to us, she was just a few months old, too young to understand what lay ahead, yet full of a spirit that was evident to everyone caring for her. She was diagnosed with beta thalassaemia major early, which allowed us to manage her condition with the right interventions. However, a stem cell transplant remained her only curative option. Finding a matched unrelated donor for a child is never guaranteed, and when Dilip’s match came through, it was a moment of immense relief for our entire team. Sameeksha’s journey shows what is possible when early diagnosis is supported by timely medical care and when someone, somewhere, chooses to register, said Dr. Siddhesh Kalantri, consultant Haematologist, Stem Cell Transplant Physician, BloodCare Hematology Clinic & Diagnostic Centre.
India sees over 10,000 children born with thalassemia each year. While regular blood transfusions remain a lifeline for many, a stem cell transplant is often the only cure. However, only a small percentage of patients are able to find a matched unrelated donor, and availability remains limited, particularly within Indian populations.
