Rudra Pratap Singh
In an extraordinary display of love and resilience, a four-year-old girl has become the youngest donor to her two-year-old sister, who is battling acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a severe form of blood cancer. This marks the first-ever allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) performed on such a young child in Odisha, offering new hope for families fighting similar battles.
A Race Against Time
For little Aliza Naaz, life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with high-risk AML. Her parents, Sharukh Ansari and his wife, from Dhanbad, Jharkhand, had to navigate a journey no parent ever wishes to face. She initially underwent induction chemotherapy at Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) in Jamshedpur in July 2024. But post-treatment evaluations revealed devastating news—the disease had persisted, pushing her into the high-risk category.
Her doctors recommended an allogeneic BMT, a procedure that would require a compatible stem cell donor. A ray of hope emerged when human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching conducted at TMH confirmed a 100% match with her elder sister, Aatifa, who was just four years old.
A Family’s Struggle and a Life-Changing Decision
The cost of a bone marrow transplant outside Odisha was estimated at a staggering ₹30 lakhs—an amount well beyond the reach of Aliza’s family. When TMH doctors realized the family could not afford the procedure, they referred them to SCB Medical College Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack, where the procedure is provided free of cost.
A First-of-Its-Kind Transplant
On January 7, 2025, Aliza was admitted to the BMT unit of SCBMCH. Her parents were carefully counseled on the procedure’s risks and implications. Given the complexity of the case and the donor’s young age, a special BMT team, including two pediatric faculty members, was assembled. The preparation began on January 27, and the brave little donor, Aatifa, was admitted the following day.
The stem cell collection process posed significant challenges, as no procedure like this had been performed on such a young donor before. “The same blood group was matched and used to prime the aphaeresis system, as the child’s blood volume was too low to sustain the dynamics of stem cell collection,” said Dr. Sudha Sethy, Head of Clinical Hematology at SCBMCH. The procedure began at 9 a.m. on February 6 and was successfully completed by 1 p.m. The very next day, on February 7, Aliza received her sister’s life-saving stem cells.
A Hopeful Recovery and a Milestone for Odisha
The road to recovery has not been without its hurdles. Aliza faced infections and chemotherapy-induced mucositis, but doctors at SCBMCH managed her condition with antibiotics and supportive care. As of the latest reports, she remains stable, with no fever and promising biochemical and hematological parameters.
“This landmark BMT will open doors for the treatment of many children suffering from blood disorders like Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Disease, Aplastic Anemia, various blood cancers, and other related conditions. These diseases affect thousands and place a significant socio-economic burden on our State. Now, with SCBMCH offering this procedure free of cost, many children who previously had no chance can hope for a cure,” said Prof. R.K. Jena, a renowned BMT physician.
A Beacon of Hope for the Future
Established in 2014, the BMT unit at SCBMCH was the first in the country to offer this life-saving treatment in a government hospital setting. A procedure that typically costs between ₹15-30 lakhs and comes with a long waiting period in private hospitals is being performed here at no cost to patients. Over the past 11 years, the unit has successfully conducted 176 BMTs, with more than 80% of patients showing positive recovery outcomes.
Aliza’s journey is one of courage, science, and the boundless love of a sister who, despite her young age, gave her the greatest gift—hope. Her story stands as an inspiration and a testament to the progress in medical science and the compassionate healthcare available in Odisha.