Two-year-old girl donates stem cells to brother with thalassemia
A two-year-old girl successfully donated stem cells to her elder brother, who was suffering from thalassemia major. The procedure was facilitated by the DKMS Foundation and Narayana Health, highlighting the life-saving potential of HLA-matched transplants.
Why it matters
Finding a suitable HLA match is a significant hurdle in treating thalassemia, and this case underscores the importance of accessible genetic testing and donor registries.
A two-year-old girl became a blood stem cell donor for her elder brother with thalassemia, giving him a chance at a healthier life.
The story of Som and Khushi Yadav highlights the importance of finding a suitable human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match and access to blood stem cell transplantation for patients with thalassemia, particularly those from families who face financial and other barriers to treatment.
Som was just five months old when he was diagnosed with thalassemia major. His younger sister, Saumya, was later diagnosed with the same condition. Neither had a full HLA match within the family, leaving them dependent on regular blood transfusions.
For the family, which lives in a small village in Korba district, Chattisgarh, and faced financial difficulties, arranging blood and medicines every month was a constant challenge.
The family’s circumstances changed after Khushi, their third child, was born in 2021.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in