Usually, on Raksha Bandhan, it’s the brother who gives a gift to his sister. But this year at Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital in Mumbai, a little girl gave her brother a gift far greater than any toy or sweet — she gave him a chance to live a healthy life.
The boy had a rare illness called Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID), a disorder characterized by defective B cell function leading to impaired immunoglobulin production. Because of this, his body couldn’t fight infections well, and his lungs were badly damaged. He needed special monthly treatments just to stay alive. The only real chance for him to get better was a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT), which is a difficult and risky operation. Miraculously, his sister was a perfect match to donate stem cells — something very rare. With bravery beyond her age, she gave her stem cells to her brother, showing the true meaning of Raksha Bandhan — love, protection, and selfless care.
Dr. Chintan Vyas, a senior doctor at the hospital, and his team took great care of the boy during this tough journey. The transplant was complicated because of the boy’s past infections and lung problems, and his mother was raising him alone. Even though the family had money problems, the hospital and kind donors helped them through.
Thanks to careful planning and teamwork with lung experts, the transplant went well. The boy did not need intensive care and recovered quickly. Six months later, he no longer needs the monthly treatments, his lungs are healing, and he is healthy and happy — going to school, playing, and living like any other child.
“This is more than just a medical success,” said Dr. Vyas. “It is a story of courage — a boy fighting a serious illness, a mother facing many challenges, and a sister’s priceless gift. It shows that with the right help, even tough diseases like CVID can be treated.”
Dr. Zubin Pereira, Director of the hospital, said, “This story shows how teamwork, good medical care, and family love can change lives. We are proud to have helped this boy get a second chance.”
When you don’t have enough antibodies, you get sick more often and more severely. People with CVID often have frequent infections in the lungs, ears, and sinuses. Vaccines don’t work well because their immune system can’t make enough antibodies.
CVID is serious. Besides frequent infections, it can cause severe lung disease and increase the risk of certain cancers.
CVID affects about 1 in 25,000 people. It’s the most common immune deficiency in adults, though symptoms can start in childhood, according to the doctors.
