DKMS Foundation India Executive Chairman Patrick Paul and haemato-oncologist Aruna Rajendran with stem cell donor Paritosh and patient Samnu John at a press conference in the city on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
A 40-year-old man from Chennai, Samnu John, who underwent an unrelated stem cell transplant for severe aplastic anaemia, met his donor for the first time on Wednesday, two years post the transplant.
At the event, Aruna Rajendran, haemato-oncologist and bone marrow transplant physician at Madras Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Government General hospital, who headed the transplant, spoke about the need for more stem cell donor registration in the country.
“When a person is diagnosed with a life threatening condition such as severe aplastic anaemia, it leaves him or her vulnerable to infections, bleeding and with extreme exhaustion among many other complications. A stem cell transplant is the curative option for these patients but donor availability and funding for bone marrow transplantation is the biggest bottlenecks,” says Dr. Rajendran.
“It took us 18 months to find the exact match for Mr. John, and now he is fully recovered and back at work. But there are several other patients who are still struggling to find a suitable match,” she said, adding that donor availability and willingness to donate are two different things.
Dr. Rajendran also noted that awareness should extend beyond individuals to families so they are more supportive when their children choose to register themselves as stem cell donors.
Mr. John, recalling the ordeals he went through, had to quit his job because of severe symptoms. “Survival itself was difficult both before and after diagnosis. My family members were not a match for donor and I was so tired of waiting for one. But we finally managed to find the right match through DKMS foundation,” he said.
Patrick Paul, Executive Chairman, DKMS Foundation India, spoke about the need for more people to register as stem cell donors.
Financial support
He also noted that the foundation has provided financial support too for some patients without government health insurance.
Mr. John’s donor, a 25-year-old Paritosh from Uttar Pradesh, said myths around stem cell donation should be debunked. “It is not Marvel or DC but a superhero within all of us. We have to step forward and help people suffering from these rare blood disorders in whatever way we can,” he says.
Published – July 23, 2026 12:46 am IST
