NEW DELHI: When 30-year-old Rafiya Sherin, living in Preston, the UK, appealed for a blood stem cell donor to help treat her severe aplastic anaemia, she was completely overwhelmed at the overwhelming response. For, thousands of people in Kerala responded. More than 11,000 people registered as potential donors in just two days at Sullamussalam College, her former college, turning her search for a life-saving match into a remarkable show of community support.
The response highlights both the willingness of people to help someone in need and the importance of expanding India’s pool of registered blood stem cell donors, particularly from communities that remain under-represented in donor registries.
Aplastic anaemia is a rare, serious disorder in which the bone marrow — the tissue inside bones that produces blood cells — fails to make enough red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. This can leave patients vulnerable to severe anaemia, infections and potentially life-threatening bleeding. Severe cases may require treatment with medicines that suppress the immune system or a blood stem cell transplant, depending on the patient’s condition and suitability for treatment.
The donor registration drive across Kerala was organised by Rafiya Sherin’s family and friends in partnership with DKMS Foundation India, a non-profit that works to expand the pool of potential blood stem cell donors for patients with blood cancers and other serious blood disorders.
Rafiya Sherin said, “If my search for a compatible donor highlights the challenges faced by patients of South Asian heritage, I hope it also encourages more people to register as potential stem cell donors. Even if I cannot find my own match, I want to help create that chance for someone else. I will continue to fight and raise awareness so that more patients can have hope of finding their lifesaver.”
The campaign began gaining momentum in Manjeri, where more than 1,500 people registered as potential donors. A drive in Tirur at the end of September brought in more than 4,200 registrations in a single day, with support from volunteers associated with Snehatheeram, an organisation Rafiya had previously worked with.
The campaign then reached Sullamussalam College, where more than 6,000 people registered on the first day. The response prompted organisers to extend the drive to a second day, and registrations eventually crossed 11,000. More than 200 volunteers helped manage the turnout, while free bus services were arranged to bring people to the venue. Rafiya’s family was present throughout the drive, interacting with volunteers and potential donors.
Finding a compatible donor can be difficult because matching depends largely on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) markers — proteins on the surface of cells that help the immune system distinguish the body’s own cells from foreign ones. These markers are inherited, and a suitable match is more likely to be found among people with similar ancestral backgrounds. However, compatibility varies from person to person, and an individual’s ancestry alone cannot guarantee a match.
For patients who need a transplant but do not have a suitable related donor, registries of volunteer donors can widen the search. Increasing the representation of South Asian communities in these registries can improve the chances of finding a compatible donor for patients from the region.
Patrick Paul, Executive Chairman, DKMS Foundation India, said, “At DKMS Foundation India, we believe that every individual who registers as a potential stem cell donor can help bring hope to patients searching for a compatible match. More than 11,000 people registering in just two days is a remarkable demonstration of the power of collective action. We are grateful to Rafiya’s family, the volunteers and everyone who came forward in response to her appeal.”
He added, “However, the need extends far beyond one patient. For people living with blood cancer and other serious blood disorders, finding a suitably matched donor can be challenging. We hope this extraordinary response inspires more people across India to register as potential stem cell donors, helping expand the pool of potential matches and giving more patients a chance at a life-saving transplant.”
The registrations do not guarantee that Rafiya will find a match, but they increase the number of people who could potentially help patients in need, said the experts in the sector.
