Ananya’s Second Chance at Life

A life-saving stem cell transplant has given a young girl a second chance at life, thanks to the foresight of her parents and her brother’s stem cells.

When Ananya was diagnosed with beta thalassaemia, we were completely shattered,” said her parents, Saranya and Srinivas. “We didn’t know what the condition meant or how we would manage it. But we held onto hope. When our son was born, we stored his umbilical cord blood stem cells without knowing if he would be a match. That decision changed everything.”

The cord blood, collected at birth from her younger brother Akash, was stored and preserved for over two years before being released for a stem cell transplant to treat Ananya’s beta thalassaemia, a severe genetic blood disorder.

Beta thalassaemia is a complex condition, and a stem cell transplant is often the only curative option. The success of the transplant depends on a close genetic match between donor and recipient, something the family could only hope for when they chose to store Akash’s cord blood.

Ananya’s transplant was a success, and today, her parents describe her as full of strength and determination. “She truly has the desire to live and conquer the world,” said her father. “Her willpower made her stand where she is today. We are grateful to everyone who supported us.”