I have lost count of the number of times I have donated my blood, but I remember vividly the profound experience of donating my blood stem cells to a 3-year-old girl suffering from blood cancer. Today, I wish to share that “it was my privilege to help someone who actually needed me.”
In 2017, a donor recruitment drive took place in my office, and the DATRI coordinator passionately explained how a blood stem cell donation can be a potential cure for people battling blood cancer and blood disorders. At that time, I did not fully comprehend the impact of such a donation, but I went ahead and gave my swab test. In 2019, I received a call from Rajkiran, the DATRI coordinator, informing me that I was a match for a small child suffering from blood cancer and asking if I could consent to donate my blood stem cells.
I was really happy to know that I had the opportunity to save a life and I decided to make the donation. The only challenge for me was giving up smoking for a few days leading up to the day of the donation. What came to my mind was, “I have an objective, that is to save a life, so such small sacrifices should not hinder my decision.”
I gladly went ahead with the blood stem cell donation, and my office also supported me by reducing my workload so that I could have a relaxed donation. I experienced a bit of discomfort and pain, but I related it to the extreme pain that the small child would be undergoing, and in comparison, mine paled into oblivion.
After the donation, I forgot all about it until one day while surfing the internet, I got a pop-up of a DATRI video. To my surprise, I saw that my donation picture and the video said that the recipient was doing good. My joy knew no bounds.
Today, when anyone asks me how I define this moment that is my donation, I have no words. I just want to say that when you get a chance like this, do not hesitate but just jump up and go ahead. Trust the organization, for they would have done all the research before requesting you to help save a life.
Just go ahead and seize the opportunity, for it will be a life worth living.
Pranabesh Biswas is a SAP Success Factors Consultant with HSBC. Through DATRI, he donated his blood stem cells in 2019.