“If you’re looking to do something good then this is definitely for you.”

Our 50th donor Naveen shares his story –

“I was surprised when I learned that you can save someone’s life just by donating your stem cells. Rahul Dravid has been my idol for many years, so I was really motivated to support a cause that he was once a part of. Blood cancer and blood disorder patients around the world are unable to find matching donors because the chances of finding a match are so rare. I feel really fortunate that I got the opportunity, through DKMS-BMST, to have helped save a life.

When the team contacted me about turning up as a match, I was happy, but also a bit worried. My family was worried too, they hadn’t heard about stem cell donation before so they were not sure what to expect. But the DKMS-BMST team was very helpful, they thoroughly explained the whole process and reassured my family that nothing would go wrong. This eventually convinced my family and they were supportive through the rest of my journey.

Donation Process

In the days leading up to my donation I got the GCSF injections to increase the stem cell count in my body. There was not much preparation required, I was only asked to maintain a good diet and stay healthy. The thought that I would be making a difference to someone’s life motivated me to go through with the donation.

The DKMS-BMST team picked me up from my hotel room and took me to the collection center for my donation. It was a smooth process that went on for 2-3 hours. During my time there, the team from DKMS-BMST made me feel special and took good care of me.

After the donation

I left the collection center feeling good and proud of what I had just done. There were no side effects and I could just get back to my routine the following day. I never imagined that I would get to help someone like this. I really hope that that my donation helps the patient. I also hope that they recover soon and go on to live a happy, healthy life.

Message for all

When I registered as a potential donor, I knew the chances of actually donating my stem cells were rare, but I did it anyway. I’d always wanted to help people, so by choosing to register as a stem cell donor, I knew that I could help someone greatly with just a little effort. If you’re looking to do something good then this is definitely for you. I hope my journey inspires people to come forward and join the cause. “

How you can help

If you’d like to register as a potential blood stem cell donor you can check your eligibility and sign up today.

Anyone aged between 18-55 years and in general good health can go on standby as a potential lifesaver. If you're not eligible or you're already registered, check out some of the other ways to get involved in the fight against blood cancer.