IT Professional from Karnataka Gives 12-Year-Old Girl a New Lease of Life Through Stem Cell Donation
Bengaluru, May 7, 2026: Ahead of World Thalassaemia Day, an emotional meeting between a 12-year-old thalassaemia survivor and her stem cell donor highlighted the life-changing impact of stem cell transplantation, as DKMS Foundation India announced free HLA typing for children below 12 years suffering from transfusion-dependent thalassaemia across India.
Sameeksha, who battled beta thalassaemia major since infancy, met her donor Dilip K., a 27-year-old IT professional from Kolar, Karnataka, for the first time. What began as a routine stem cell donor registration during Dilip’s college days eventually turned into a life-saving match for the young girl.
Speaking during the interaction, Dilip said he had registered without fully realising the impact it could one day have. “Until now, she was only a match on paper. Meeting her today makes everything real,” he said.
The announcement of free HLA typing aims to improve access to stem cell transplantation for children suffering from transfusion-dependent thalassaemia, a condition that requires lifelong blood transfusions unless cured through transplant.
DKMS Foundation India also extended financial assistance to Sameeksha’s family, which struggled to afford the treatment expenses. Through its patient funding initiative, the organisation supports economically weaker families in accessing stem cell transplantation when other financial sources fall short.
Expressing relief and gratitude, Sameeksha’s father said the family had waited for years in the hope of finding a suitable donor.
“There were moments when everything felt uncertain, but we never gave up. Meeting Dilip today is something we had only dreamed about,” he said.
Now recovering well, Sameeksha says she is finally able to enjoy a normal childhood. “I feel happy now. I can play and go to school like other children,” she said with a smile.
Patrick Paul, Executive Chairman of DKMS Foundation India, said access to treatment remains one of the biggest challenges for patients from lower-income backgrounds suffering from blood disorders and blood cancers. He said the organisation’s Access to Transplant programme was created to bridge this gap and provide life-saving support to deserving patients.
Dr. Elke Neujahr, Global CEO of DKMS Group, said the newly launched thalassaemia initiative is aimed at reducing barriers related to affordability and donor access. She noted that free HLA typing for children below 12 years would help families identify suitable donors at an early stage and improve chances of timely treatment.
Under the programme, DKMS conducts awareness and screening camps in partnership with NGOs and transplant centres across the country.
During these camps, patients and their family members provide buccal swab samples for HLA testing. If no matching donor is found within the family, DKMS facilitates free unrelated donor searches through its international registry.
Dr. Siddhesh Kalantri, Consultant Haematologist and Stem Cell Transplant Physician at BloodCare Hematology Clinic & Diagnostic Centre, said Sameeksha was diagnosed with beta thalassaemia major at a very young age. While regular medical care helped manage her condition, stem cell transplantation remained the only curative option.
“Finding a matched unrelated donor is never guaranteed.
When Dilip’s match was identified, it brought immense relief to the medical team and the family,” he said, adding that the case underlined the importance of early diagnosis, timely treatment, and donor awareness.
India records more than 10,000 births affected by thalassaemia every year. Though blood transfusions help patients survive, stem cell transplantation remains the only permanent cure. However, finding a compatible donor continues to be a major challenge, particularly for Indian patients.
DKMS has urged healthy adults between 18 and 55 years of age to register as potential stem cell donors. The registration process involves filling out a consent form and providing a simple cheek swab sample for HLA testing. Eligible donors are then anonymously listed on the international donor registry to help patients searching for a match.
Sameeksha’s story now stands as a powerful reminder that a single donor registration can one day save a life and restore hope to an entire family.
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