Thalassaemia: Girl, 12, meets stranger who saved her life

Bengaluru: Twelve-year-old Sameeksha could barely hold back her tears as she walked up to the man she had waited years to meet – the stranger whose decision to register as a stem cell donor had ultimately saved her life.At an emotional gathering in the city ahead of World Thalassaemia Day, Sameeksha Thursday came face to face with 27-year-old Dilip Kumar, an IT professional hailing from Kolar who donated a stem cell to her. For the young girl, it was a meeting with the person who gave her a second chance at childhood. For Dilip, it was the first time he truly understood how one small decision could transform an entire family's future. As the two met, hugged and spoke quietly on stage, the room fell silent.Diagnosed with thalassaemia at a very young age, Sameeksha spent much of her childhood in hospitals, dependent on frequent blood transfusions just to survive. Doctors recalled how pale and fragile she appeared during the early years of treatment, warning that without a successful stem cell transplant, surviving beyond her 20s would have been unlikely. That was when she came under the radar of DKMS Foundation India, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other disorders. While regular blood transfusions remain a lifeline for many, doctors say 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. "Patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face substantial challenges in accessing high-end treatment due to the enormous costs involved," said Patrick Paul, executive chairman, DKMS Foundation India.Sameeksha too found herself in a difficult predicament. "When she first came to us, she was too young to understand what lay ahead. She was diagnosed with beta thalassaemia," said Dr Siddesh Kalantri, stem cell transplant physician, Bloodcare Hematology Clinic & Diagnostic Centre. While finding a matching unrelated donor for a child is never guaranteed, her family was relieved when they got a call about the donor having been found. Sameeksha called the transplant her "second life" and said she can now attend school regularly, and live like other children her age.For her parents, the meeting Thursday was overwhelming. After years of fear, hospital visits and uncertainty, they said meeting Dilip felt like meeting the person who brought their daughter back to them. Fighting back tears, they described him as nothing less than a blessing. Dilip said the experience changed the way he looked at life, adding that the happiness of helping another person live is difficult to explain. "We may not be able to create life, but if we can help save one, why hold back?" he said.— Nyasa Gupta
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