Two-year-old girl donates stem cells to brother with thalassemia
The story of Som and Khushi Yadav highlights the importance of finding a suitable human leukocyte antigen match and access to blood stem cell transplantation for patients with thalassemia
Som and Khushi Yadav, a brother and sister from a small village in Korba district, Chattisgarh, faced the challenge of thalassemia major, a severe form of the blood disorder. Diagnosed at just five months old, Som required regular blood transfusions due to the lack of a suitable donor within the family. Their younger sister, Khushi, born in 2021, was found to be a perfect HLA match and donated her blood stem cells to save her brother's life in 2023.
The family, facing financial difficulties, underwent free HLA typing in Bengaluru through the DKMS Foundation India, highlighting the importance of HLA matching and accessible treatment for patients with thalassemia. In India, an estimated 10,000 children are born with thalassemia major annually, but finding a suitable donor remains a significant barrier.
DKMS Foundation India works to connect patients with donors, both family and unrelated, through global registries, emphasizing the role of genetic diversity in finding a match.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
