When Gaurvik was just six months old, he was found to be a Beta Thalassemia, a serious inherited blood disorder.

This meant that his body could not make enough healthy red blood cells, and would require frequent blood transfusion to survive.

His parents were heartbroken. Without proper treatment, Thalassemia can lead to serious health problems and affect a child’s entire life.

But thanks to a special type of bone marrow transplant, Gaurvik is now a healthy child who no longer needs infection. Two years after the process, he is living a normal, active life.

The treatment was done at Dharmashila Narayan Superspeciality Hospital in New Delhi, where doctors are working to help children like Superno Chakraborty and Sarita Rani Jiswal Gaurvik. They used a new method, called haplidentical transplant, which allows bone marrow transplant using a donor that is only one half match.

In the case of Gaurvik, her elder sister Ananya was 50% match. While doctors usually look for a full match, which is difficult to find, the team proceeded with this advanced technology, and did it.

It is important to find a match because bone marrow transplantation needs to be closer to a match as possible to reduce the risk of the donor cells. When a full match is not available, a half match transplant done under experienced doctors, can still save life.

For children with Thalassemia major, the only possible treatment is a bone marrow transplant. If they do not get one, they require regular blood transfusions for life with medicines to remove excess iron from their body.

A medical success

Dharmashila Narayan Superspeciality Hospital, Hematology and BMT head Dr. Superno Chakraborty said, “Haploidentical BMT represents a significant progress in Thalassemia treatment.”

“When we started this mission in 2014, we imagined hope for every Thalassemia patient, regardless of the availability of the donor. Gaurvik’s success story validate our perseverance through countless challenges,” Dr. Chakravarti said.

Gaurvik started under his transplant on May 1, 2023 at the age of two. Now, two years later, he no longer depends on blood infection and remains like another child.

“Yes, he is completely cured of Thalassemia. He only requires vaccination like any normal child,” Dr. Sarita Jaiswal confirmed.

But this medical feat did not become easy. A small child was challenging to make a half-3-3-to-3 transplant, including the risk of graft-bamn-host disease (increasing risk of immune cells of the donor.

“We moved forward very carefully. Our team has been researching these complications for more than a decade. A major development was in addition to drug abettecepts, which helped reduce immunity related complications,” Dr. Jaiswal said.

Dr. Chakravarti and Dr. Jaiswal is a drug in the last 10 years while researching the abtesspt, which has played an important role in making Gaurvik’s transplant success.

Dr. Jaiswal said, “We have created special care protocols and innovations to ensure that even children with only partially matched donors can be cured.”

A low recognized health crisis

While the story of Gaurvik is inspiring, it also exposes the widespread crisis of Thalassemia in India.

Dr. According to Radheshham Naik, there were more than 10,000 children in India annually with the Head of Thalassemia, a bone marrow transplant doctor at Samaprada Hospital in Bengaluru.

“This is a prevention and manageable situation. Yet due to awareness and lack of timely intervention, we look at the high rates of sickness and premature deaths, especially in rural and semi-urban areas,” Dr. Naik said.

Bone marrow transplant is the only therapeutic option. However, many patients undergo late treatment, when complications have already been advanced.

Dr. Naik warned, “delaying a transplantation involves chronic anemia, limb dysfunction and even death, which affects the heart and liver due to iron surcharge,” Dr. Naik warned.

Prevention is possible

While advanced treatment options such as innocent transplants are important, doctors emphasize the importance of prevention and early detection to reduce the burden of the disease.

Dr. Naik said, “Preventive screening is a lifestyle strategy. Identifying the carrier of Thalassemia genes can prevent the disease from passing the next generation.”

Career screening is a simple blood test that can identify whether a person borres Thalassemia characteristic. If two carriers get married, 25% is likely to have their child’s thalassemia prominent. If the screening is done before the wedding or during pregnancy, families may receive genetic counseling and make sure decisions according to experts.

Limited access and awareness

Despite the progression, the accessory treatment of remedial remedies such as bone marrow transplant is limited due to lack of awareness.

“Haploidical BMT is one of the most complex medical procedures. In India, the availability and expertise is growing in major centers, access to all families that do not match a full HLA, still interrupted by factors such as cost, awareness and regional inequalities,” Dr. Jaiswell outlined.

The story of Gaurvik not only provides a glimpse of medical possibility, but also reminds of timely intervention, awareness and preventive health strategies.