Woman Blood Stem Cell Donor Meets recipient from Sri Lanka

KOCHI:
DATRI, India’s largest adult unrelated Blood Stem Cell Donors Registry and AIMS, Kochi, organised a special event ‘Sahaja’, to get Kerala’s first woman donor – Dr. Kanmani to meet her recipient 6 year old Shreemali Balasooriya from Sri Lanka.
It was a very emotional moment for the Balosooriya family from the island nation as they met their daughter’s lifesaver for the first time. The event was co-hosted by AIMS, Kochi. Surgeon Commodore (Dr.) Subhash Ranjan, (NM, VSM, Commanding Officer INHS Sanjeevani), graced the occasion.
The meet celebrated real life hero, Dr Kanmani – a young 23 year old doctor who registered with DATRI in 2013 during a camp held at her college. She recalls, “The day I registered with DATRI is still very fresh in my memory. I preserved the donor’s registration card in my wallet with the thought that – I will wait and watch if God would really choose me.”
In March 2017, her wish was fulfilled when she received a call from DATRI informing her that she was a perfect match for a little girl suffering from Thalassemia and required a Blood Stem Cell transplant urgently. Shreemali Balasooriya was detected with Thalassemia when she was just 2 months old. While her initial treatment took place in Sri Lanka, the family decided to consult Dr. Sunil Bhat in Bangalore.
A very emotional Balasooriya, Shreemali’s father, “I do not have words to express my feelings, we have waited for so long to meet the person whose selfless act has resulted in gifting us with the life of my daughter. And today we are totally overwhelmed to meet a young woman who is now a part of our family and will always be in our payers. Thank you DATRI for finding this match and gifting our daughter back to us.”
On meeting Shreemali and her family, Dr Kanmani who donated her blood stem cells in 2017 at AIMS Kochi said, “I would be happy, if my donation could inspire even one person to come forward and donate his/her Blood Stem Cells.” She further said, “Being a man or a woman does not make any difference both are equally compatible to donate their Blood Stem Cells. Women should not hold themselves back when such opportunities knock their doors.”
As per the registry protocol, the identity of donors and recipients is kept anonymous for one year. Post completion of one year, with consent of both the recipient and the donor, DATRI facilitates the meeting between the two along with their loved ones. DATRI has facilitated 43 PBSC donations at AIMS, Kochi.
Dr Prem Nair, the renowned Medical Director, AIMS Kochi said “It gives me great pride to share that today, AIMS is well equip to treat serious blood disorders through Blood Stem Cell transplants. This is possible only because of highly competent Doctors and latest equipments.”
Highlighting the grim situation Dr Neeraj Sidharthan, MD DNB DM Clinical Associate Professor, AIMS Kochi said, "Among the patients looking for Blood Stem Cell donors only about 30% have the chance to find a match within the family, while others have to rely on unrelated blood stem cell donors.
That is why we need more volunteer Blood Stem Cell donors in India and registries like DATRI to help save many lives. Donors like Dr. Kanmani motivate many more to come forward  and register themselves as blood stem cell donors.”
Commenting on the proud moment, Raghu Rajagopal, Co-Founder & CEO of DATRI, said, “We are so happy that DATRI today has over 3,39,000 registered volunteer donors whose support has helped us facilitate 380 donations as of date. It’s the selfless act of donors like Dr. Kanmani that has gifted many patients a new lease of life. I am extremely proud of this young lady doctor, who is also Kerala’s first woman Blood Stem Cell donor.”
For a patient suffering from fatal blood disorders like blood cancer, a Blood Stem Cell transplant is the only hope of life. The probability of finding a matched blood stem cell donor is 1 in 10,000 to 1 in over a Million. Every match is close to a miracle. If a match is found, that donor is probably the only person who can save the patient.
Kerala has over 3.4 million population, however, it is appalling that only around 64,326 potential blood stem cell donors are registered with DATRI till date. This definitely calls for higher awareness across the state, on the importance of saving lives through blood stem cell donation.