CELEBRATION OF LIVES GIFTED
Sharing gifts between families and friends are quite usual but have you ever gifted a stranger with something priceless? Yes, Blood Stem Cell Donation is about gifting a stranger an incomparable priceless gift of life. Please scroll down to read our Donor-Recipient meet articles, to understand the myriad of emotions expressed during the first time meeting of the patient and the donor.
REBIRTH OF LONG LOST SISTER A LIFESAVING CONNECTION: KALPESHBHAI AND ADVIK
Kalpeshbhai, a selfless donor who registered during a recruitment drive conducted by DATRI in 2013, found himself in a fortunate position when he discovered that he was a match for a small child, Advik Goel. Reflecting on this extraordinary opportunity, Kalpesh shared, “when DATRI shared the news with me, I could not contain my happiness at the chance to be a lifesaver.” Kalpesh proceeded with the donation, and he got the opportunity to see his recipient, little Advik.
Advik Goel, diagnosed with Congenital Neutropenia, a rare genetic disorder, when he was only three months old. Faced with the daunting challenge of managing this medical crisis, Advik’s parents learned that a blood stem cell transplant was the only potential cure for their beloved child. They were lucky to find the 10/10 match donor through DATRI. The gratitude that Advik’s parents feel towards Kalpeshbhai who has given their child a chance at a new life is beyond words. Aadvik’s father expressed his sentiments, saying, “The selfless act of the donor has not only given our son a new lease on life but has also reaffirmed our faith in humanity.”
Kalpeshbhai (Donor – Right)
Advik Goel (Recipient – Left)
EXPERIENCING A BOND FOR LIFE
In the midst of corporate life, Naveen, an employee at Northern Trust Operations Pvt. Ltd., unexpectedly found himself with a chance to offer the gift of life through DATRI. Naveen provided a swab sample, not fully comprehending the potential impact of his selfless act. Days later, DATRI delivered news—Naveen was a perfect match for a patient in need. Without hesitation, Naveen embraced the opportunity to save a life. His story is a testament to the transformative power of altruism, as he navigated the complexities of blood stem cell donation to bring hope and a second chance at life to Ashutosh Sahu.
The journey came full circle when DATRI arranged a meeting between Naveen and the recipient of his life-saving gift—little Aahutosh. Diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia at the tender age of two. . Naveen, the donor sent by fate, had made it possible for Ashutosh to undergo a successful bone marrow transplant in 2019. Today, Ashutosh is a picture of health and joy, a living testament to the power of selfless acts.
For Simanchal and Parbati, Naveen is not just a donor; he is a guardian angel sent by the divine. Their gratitude knows no bounds as they express, “Today it is because of our donor, Naveen, we are able to save our child’s life. We can never reciprocate what he has done for us.”
As Naveen and Ashutosh’s paths converged, they created a bond that transcends the boundaries of mere donor and recipient—a bond forged in the crucible of hope, resilience, and the enduring spirit of humanity.
Naveen (Donor – Right)
Ashutosh Sahu (Recipient – Left)
A RAY OF HOPE LIES BEYOND THE FAMILY
Fateh was a little boy diagnosed from Thalassemia. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find a Bone Marrow Match/ Blood Stem Cell Match in his family. But Fateh was blessed enough to find an unrelated donor from DATRI was a match for him. The donation to Fateh was held in 2016 and Thalassemia Treatment went smooth.
One-year post transplant, Fateh and his entire family came to meet the Hero who saved their bundle of joy’ life.
Fateh’ family was brimming with emotions about meeting the donor. They were excited and equally grateful to meet the stranger who is now a part of the family. Naval was a 26-year-old corporate employee who registered as a Blood Stem Cell Donor in 2015 and was luckily found as a match in 2016.
Navel has varied thoughts about him donating, but the cause of saving a life weighed much more than himself. He was equally excited about meeting his recipient, with whom he now has a blood bond. Fateh family was in tears when they met Navel, now they’re no more strangers!
Fateh Singh (Recipient – Left)
18-May-2017 | Bangalore
TIES BEYOND TIDES
Shreemali Balasooriya is a 7 yr old Srilankan girl who was diagnosed with Thalassemia, while she was 2 months old. She underwent a Blood Stem Cell Transplant in 2017 with the Blood Stem Cells Donated by Dr Kanmani in Cochin
In 2013, Dr.Kanmani who was then a student of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham registered as a Blood Stem Cell Donor in a camp which was organized by her inspirational Professor, Dr Neeraj. After that day she had safely kept her Donor Registration Card always with her, waiting for her turn. One fine day, her wish did come true through DATRI. All that she knew was, a patient is in need of her help and being a Doctor, she knew the difficulty of finding a HLA match for a Thalassemia patient.
Dr.Kanmani is the First Woman Blood Stem Cell Donor from Kerala. During the DRM Dr Kanmani, shared her donation experience, which happened a day before her graduation. She doesn’t regret a bit missing all the fun and excitement over the graduation day. All that she could feel was contentment from the day she donated, till the day she met Shreemali Balasooriya on stage. She also encouraged the audience, who are her juniors to register themselves as a Blood Stem Cell Donor and be ready to donate if they get that one in a million chance to save a life.
During the DRM the auditorium was filled with joy and love of the Srilankan kid Shreemali Balasooriya, who has crossed oceans to meet her donor and express her heartfelt thanks through her kisses and a warm hug. Shreemali Balasooriya can now happily dance forever and pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.
K-Shreemali Balasooriya (Recipient – Right)
DRM-3-May-2018 | Kochi
