1,000 transplants and new beginnings: Thalassemia patients get a second chance

In a significant milestone, 1,000 children suffering from thalassemia have undergone successful paediatric stem cell transplants, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Sankalp India Foundation, DKMS, and Cure2Children Foundation. The life-changing procedure, which comes with significant risks and costs ranging from ₹12 lakh to ₹40 lakh in India, has provided these young patients with a renewed lease on life.

One such success story is that of 17-year-old Muhammad Shaheem from Karnataka, who began his journey with regular blood transfusions at the tender age of five months. After years of transfusions, Shaheem's heart and liver were severely affected, making the transplant procedure particularly risky. However, his younger sister, Zara, was identified as a full Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-matched donor, offering a glimmer of hope.

After careful preparation and counselling at the Sankalp-Bhagwan Mahavir Jain Hospital in Bengaluru, Shaheem's family decided to proceed with the transplant, granting him a second chance at a healthier life. The transplant efforts have been made possible through the combined strengths of these organizations, with DKMS supporting the treatment costs for over 820 children.

Sankalp India Foundation, currently caring for more than 3,000 children through 30 day-care centres and operating transplant centres in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, emphasizes the importance of accessible and affordable treatment in resource-constrained settings.