Normally, when you tell a family which has a child who suffers from thalassemia, that they have a match, at least for one moment you expect to see a smile. This was not the case when we broke the news to five-year-old Nirmitha's family. She was detected with thalassemia within the first year of her birth and ever since she was dependent on monthly blood transfusions. Though they did come for the follow-up meetings, the expression on their face did not suggest that they were willing to go for the transplant. During one counseling session, it became clear that the father thought that it was impossible for him to organize the money needed for his little daughter's cure. We told them to try and do their best and assured them that money will not come in the way of cure for the child.
Pre-transplantation therapy for the child worked quickly and the child steadily rose in the table which shows the readiness for transplantation. On the other hand, the father ran from pillar to post to find financial help. Working as a grade 4 employee in an office which was unsupportive of his situation, it was only friends and family which helped him come up with a small fraction of the amount needed for transplantation. In the mean time, Sankalp approached various partner organizations and thankfully the necessary resources were organized.
On 17th October 2016, Nirmitha underwent her transplant. She had the recovery of her counts in a record 12 days and she was discharged on the 16th day.
She is currently staying in the flat meant to accommodate the children post their transplant and her medical parameters look good. The family is overjoyed and so is everyone involved.
Transplants at an early age like in her case are most successful because of the limited damage to the body by this age. Early transplants are also associated with normal growth and quality of life. Most likely, the little one will remember thalassemia only as a childhood nightmare and nothing more.