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Strangers Unite: Donor Saves Girl's Life
7 May
Summary
- IT professional donated stem cells to save a young girl's life.
- The donor casually registered at a college camp in 2019.
- DKMS Foundation India provided financial aid for the transplant.
An IT professional, Dilip K., 27, met 12-year-old Sameeksha for the first time on May 7, 2026, having previously saved her life through a stem cell donation. Dilip had casually registered as a donor in 2019 at a college camp, a decision that unexpectedly led him to become a life-saver.
In 2021, DKMS Foundation India informed Dilip he was a perfect match for Sameeksha, a nine-year-old battling beta thalassaemia major in Maharashtra. After initial hesitation and counseling, Dilip agreed to donate, and the transplant was successfully performed in 2023.
Sameeksha, now recovering, expressed joy at being able to live like other children, while her mother recalled the anxious wait for a donor. The DKMS Foundation India provided partial financial support, highlighting the ongoing financial barriers to life-saving treatments in India.
Consultant Haematologist Dr. Siddhesh Kalantri noted the difficulty in finding matched unrelated donors and praised the successful outcome due to early diagnosis, timely treatment, and a willing donor.
