Hi, My name is Anita and I am Deepika's elder sister. In April 2000 I had the privilege of been Deepika's bone marrow donor. For me it was an honour and this is my story...
In Decemeber 1999 Deepika was diagnosed with Leukemia while the two of us were visiting our parents in Canada. It came as a major shock to all of us. At first I didn't know what to associate the word cancer with except fate.
We were explained by the doctors that Deepika will require a bone marrow transplant in the near future and that a suitable match had to be found first. Deepika had to undergo a series of chemotherapy treatments first in order to bring her leukemia under control. This process took a few months but remission was achieved in March 2000.
After searching the World Bone Marrow Registry which has approximately 6 million donors, a match could not be found.
Here's a little boring technical stuff about how a match is found. Typing involves a process similar to the blood typing system (i.e., A+, AB-, O+, etc.), but it's much more complicated. HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) matching is a combination of 6 major tissue typings that must match between the donor and recipient of the marrow. HLA markers are found on the surface of the white blood cells. These "soldier white blood cells," known as T-cells, identify what is from our body and what is a foreign enemy (i.e. disease, virus, bacteria, infection) to be fought by the immune system.
Two "HLA-A" antigens, two "HLA-B" antigens and two "HLA-DR" antigens are inherited from each parent, resulting in pairs of numbers, for example: "A2, A24; B3, B13; DR4, DR6." Scientists have discovered 24 different HLA-A types, 52 HLA-B types and 20 HLA-DR types. There are over 600 million different HLA typings when you put together all the possibilities (in combinations of six). Some typing pairs are predominate in the population, though, so the chances of matching someone in need are more realistically in the 1 in 20,000 range.
Because of genetic make-up and/or ethnically mixed backgrounds, the possibility of finding a compatible donor match is more like 1 in a million for some. This is especially true for people of African American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian ancestry. Only a few of their typings are in the databank registry of HLA typings at the World Bone Marrow Registry.
My parents, my other two siblings and I were tested. The test is just a collection of two vials of blood samples.
We were informed that none of us were a perfect match. I was a partial match. 4 out of 6 antigens matched. The doctors weighed up the options and decided to go ahead with a mis-match transplant.
Two weeks before the transplant more blood samples were taken to check my general health. Did I mention I hate needles?
During the week of the transplant I was injected with GCSF (Granulocyte colony stimulating factor) to stimulate my bone marrow to over produce stem cells which was required for the transplant. I was given GCSF for three days before the first Peripheral Stem Cell Harvest. This is the process used to extract stem cells from the bloodstream.
On Monday morning 24 April 2000, I was connected to a cell separation machine. A needle was inserted in each arm and blood was withdrawn from one arm and circulated through the machine to extract the stem cells which was collected into a bag. The remaining cells were returned through the other arm. This process took approximately six hours to complete. At the end I surprised everybody and produced a good batch of stem cells but it wasn't enough and I had to be back the next day.
The following morning I was back and ready to go through the process one more time. During the collection I use to get the chills, my mouth got a bit dry and I felt a bit light headed. By evening I was fine except for the fact that my bones would hurt from the over production of stem cells which I was told was normal. I feel the pain more then others since I am so petite.
On Wednesday I was told that I did not have to go through another round because my previous two collections did the job. I was overjoyed, no more needles. Just kidding, as afraid of needles as I am I didn't once have second thoughts about going through the whole thing over again.
On Thursday evening 27 April 2000, my loving sister received my stems cells and they started their journey into her bones to take their place.
The doctors and nurses took extra special care of me and often let me know what a great thing I did.
I now considered it an enormous privilege to be chosen to save a life!
There are many adults and children in the world waiting to find a donor. Please consider donating that small blood sample and register in the World Bone Marrow Registry. Being chosen is like winning the lottery! It'll change your life, and could save another!
Please contact your local blood services or the Red Cross to become a potential donor.