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Story #37 of 50 days, 50 Stories Campaign
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Ajasudheen, Assistant Professor, MES College of Engineering, Kunnukara, Aluva is a proud Blood Stem Cell Donor and a life savior.
Ajasudheen who is the coordinator for the National Service Scheme (NSS) Unit of MES Campus, had organized a Blood Stem Cell Donor Registration Camp in March 2017. Leading the registration camp he himself had registered as a potential blood stem cell donor in the camp, but he had never imagined that he would be a match for someone!
Ajasudheen’s act is an inspiring one not only for his students but also for every individual who has ever dreamt of being a superhero! His generosity saved a child from a fatal blood disorder called Thalassemia. Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder. People with Thalassemia are not able to produce enough hemoglobin that leads to severe anemia. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells (RBC) and is responsible for carrying oxygen to all parts of the body. But when there is insufficient hemoglobin in the RBC, oxygen is unable to reach every part of the body; soon organs are starved for oxygen and are unable to function properly. It is to a child like this that Ajasudheen’s Blood Stem Cells have been saved!
God always has some preplan; the superhero was already arranged while a tiny human was still preparing in Mother’s womb to see the world. After one year of his donor registration, when the world observing Thalassemia Awareness Day on the 8th of May, we found his donor match for a tiny human just diagnosed for Thalassemia. The day he was informed that he has been found to be a match, he immediately agreed. Initially, he was eager to save a life. But as the donation procedure started with the administration of 5 days of GCSF injections to bring stem cells into the bloodstream, Ajasudheen gradually realized that it was not just about saving a life, but also about creating a bond for life, a bond that binds two people forever!
About DATRI:
DATRI Blood Stem Cell Donors Registry, a not-for-profit organisation, has facilitated more than 1900+ Blood Stem Cell Donations to date. The journey began in the year 2009 to find unrelated matched donors for patients with leukaemia, Thalassemia or blood disorders whose life is dependent on an unrelated donor to survive. DATRI, India’s largest Blood Stem Cell Donors Registry, has more than 6 lakh + donors registered. DATRI is working towards creating a wide and diverse database of potential Blood Stem Cell Donors that can be accessed by any patient living anywhere in the world in need of a Blood Stem Cell Donation. Any healthy individual between the age of 18 years to 50 years can register as a blood stem cell donor with DATRI and potentially become a lifesaver when they’re found to be a match for a blood cancer or blood disorder patient.
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About the Author:
Athulya Krishna is a Psychology enthusiast and Social Worker started volunteering with DATRI since 2015. She is now holding the role as a “Senior Associate – Donor Recruitment and Counseling” for Kerala. Being a Computer Science Graduate, Athulya was least intrested for a career in IT and finds passion in touching human lives. She is actively involved with creating awareness for Chronic Invisible Illnesses and Arthritis finds so connected with DATRI’s cause in finding someone’s final hope..