Stem cell donors step forward to inspire others to register and join the fight against blood cancer and other life-threatening blood disorders
Kochi, May 27, 2025: Ahead of World Blood Cancer Day, DKMS Foundation India, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, honoured lifesavers from Kerala who have given patients a second chance at life. These eight warriors selflessly donated blood stem cells to save the life of patients battling blood cancer and blood disorders. These generous donors shared their deeply personal journeys, recounting how the act of donation not only saved strangers’ lives but also profoundly transformed their own. Moved by their own experiences, they urged more individuals to come forward, register as potential stem cell donors, and become the hope someone urgently needs to survive.
To mark World Blood Cancer Day, observed on May 28, DKMS Foundation India organized a special event to celebrate the incredible spirit of stem cell donation. At the event, eight donors, Sai (doctor from Calicut), Midhun (IT professional from Calicut), Kishor (IT professional from Palakkad), Abdul (IT professional from Malappuram), Sanjay (IT professional from Trivandrum), Hameem (civil engineer from Kollam), Amina (general physician from Kozhikode), and Rashid (graduate from Kerala) were felicitated for their selfless act of donating blood stem cells. Their actions have not only given patients a new lease on life but have also made them influential ambassadors of awareness and hope.
In India, blood cancer patients often face overwhelming odds when it comes to accessing life-saving stem cell transplants. With only 1 in a million people likely to find a fully matched donor, searching for a suitable match becomes an urgent and often heartbreaking struggle against time. Despite the proven, life-changing potential of stem cell transplantation, the severe shortage of registered donors remains a major barrier to timely treatment. Each year, over 70,000 lives are lost to blood cancer in the country, a disease that accounts for 8% of all new cancer diagnoses.
Patrick Paul, Chairman, DKMS India, said: “Behind every blood cancer diagnosis is a family holding on to hope and that hope often hinges on finding a matching stem cell donor. In a country of over a billion people, the fact that only 0.5 million are registered as potential donors is a gap we cannot afford. Kerala has shown encouraging intent with over 21,964 registrations, but we need many more to step forward. A single act of kindness can mean the difference between life and loss for someone, somewhere.”
Dr. Nitin Agarwal, MD Transfusion Medicine, HoD, Donor Request Management, DKMS Foundation India, said: “A blood stem cell transplant from a matching HLA donor is often the most promising chance of survival for patients with blood cancer or severe blood disorders. However, only about 30% of patients can find a suitable match within their families. The remaining 70% depend on unrelated donors but with just 0.09% of India’s population registered, the odds are heartbreakingly low. Increasing awareness and donor registrations is not just important, it’s lifesaving.”
He added: “Misconceptions that stem cell donation is painful or harmful continue to discourage many from registering. The procedure is safe, straightforward, and has no lasting impact on the donor’s health. By spreading awareness and addressing these fears, we can motivate more people to become lifesaving donors.”
Dr. Amina A.P. Shahala, a 25-year-old general physician and donor from Kozhikode, said: “As a doctor, I have always believed in healing, but donating my blood stem cells gave me a unique chance to save a life beyond the hospital walls. The process was safe, well-guided, and deeply fulfilling. Knowing that someone, somewhere, has a second chance at life because of my simple act is truly heartening.”
Sharing his experience, Rashid, a 28-year-old graduate from Kerala, said: “Knowing that my stem cell donation gave someone a second chance at life is an indescribable feeling. It’s rare to get an opportunity to make such a profound impact, and I am grateful to DKMS for guiding me through the process with such care. I encourage everyone to register because becoming a donor means becoming someone’s hope.”
Dr. Chepsy C. Philip, Clinical Hematology & Bone Marrow Transplant Physician at Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, said: “Blood cancers like lymphoma, myeloma, and leukemia continue to claim lives in India, yet stem cell transplants offer real hope—with success rates of 60–80% when performed on time. However, while over 100,000 patients need transplants each year, fewer than 3,000 actually receive one. Every day, I see patients desperately waiting for a match. Each new donor isn’t just a number—it’s a lifeline. We need many more, and we need them now.”
Since its inception in 2019, DKMS Foundation India has registered over 200,000 potential stem cell donors and facilitated more than 160 transplants, playing a crucial role in the fight against blood cancer. The foundation remains committed to saving lives by expanding its donor registry both in India and globally.
To register as a potential stem cell donor, one must be a healthy adult between 18 and 55 years of age. Registration requires filling up a simple consent form. A swab of the inside of the cheeks is taken to collect the tissue cells, which are then sent to a lab to be analysed for HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen). The potential donor is then listed anonymously on the international search platform for matching stem cell donors. Eligible individuals can register as blood stem cell donors by ordering a home swab kit at https://www.dkms-india.org/register-now and join the movement to save lives.
