12-year-old Mohammed Arman, who is suffering from Aplastic Anemia, is on the lookout for a stem cell donor who can save his life. He needs a donor and he needs one fast.
Patients suffering from such blood disorders often rely on their siblings. Unfortunately, Arman’s siblings failed to be a suitable match.
Since ethnicity plays a significant role in finding a suitable match, there are greater chances that Arman can find a donor among the Muslim community. A matched donor has to donate only 300 ml of blood to save a life.
Arman’s father, who is a tailor, struggles to make both ends meet and he cannot afford his son’s expensive medical treatment. “I have pinned all my hopes on the holy month of Ramadan. I pray to Allah to send some angel who can save my son’s life,” he said.
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The Islamic month of Ramadan starts on April 12 and it will continue till May 12. During the whole month, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and offer prayers.
Quoting a verse from the Quran, Arman’s father says, “If anyone saved a life, it would be as if he has saved whole of humanity.”
India's largest blood stem cell donors’ registry, DATRI, has also started an online campaign to motivate more and more Muslim youths to come forward for stem cell donation during Ramadan.
"Aplastic Anemia is a rare blood disorder in which the body stops producing stem cells,” said Sumati Misra, Head, Counseling & Transplant Centre Management.
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She adds, “Blood stems are the mother cells in the bone marrow that produce blood and important components like platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells. They are essential for the survival of the human body.”
Since Ramadan is considered to be a sacred month for Muslims, DATRI believes that it is an opportune time to encourage youngsters to donate.
This will not only help Arman find a match for himself but also help many other victims of similar diseases, start a new life.
