NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Zyaan Makda from Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, said she had no words to express her gratitude for the kindness of a stranger on the other side of the world who, through a stem cell transplant, saved her life.
Madka survived a rare blood disorder called heterozygous hemoglobinopathy when she found her DNA ‘twin’, Polish stem cell donor Marta Drożdż, three years ago.
Makda and Drożdż met for the first time, virtually, last month.
Makda’s parents noticed strange bruises all over her body at the age of 4.
She experienced stubborn earaches and was later diagnosed with the incurable blood disorder. A stem cell transplant was her best chance of survival.
“When we started our search, we struggled to find a donor and my siblings were not a match,” Makda said.
While the search continued, she relied on blood transfusions every two weeks.
“As a result of the treatments, the veins in my hands collapsed and I had to have a port put in my chest. I also experienced constant fatigue and had my gallbladder and gallstones removed as well. I also suffered from an under-active thyroid.”
Makda finally found her match in 2018, thanks to DKMS Africa, formerly known as The Sunflower Fund.
At the virtual meeting, an emotional Makda told Drożdż: “For years my life was about hospitals, needles and blood transfusions. I knew I needed to fight to hang in there, but my body was getting tired.
“Then that day came when we were told we had a match. I was scared to hope. Then, transplant day came. That was the beginning of my journey.
“Thank you for making the choice to become a stem cell donor, for being so selfless, and for saving my life. There are no words to describe how grateful I am. Now I can finally live.”
Her mother, Fameda said between the ages of 9 and 16 her daughter needed over 250 blood transfusions.
“I have thought of you a thousand times, what I would say to you, and words never seemed adequate. I cannot thank you enough for your selfless act, an act that saved my daughter's life,” the mother said to Drożdż
“We can now plan a future with and for Zyaan. We cannot thank you enough. You are part of our family now.”
Drożdż said she felt like family.
“In a way, Zyaan is also my sister. When I donated the marrow, that's the way I was thinking about her. When they gave me the call (that we were a match), that was a very special day. It was so special that there was someone somewhere who was so very much like me.
“Most of all it was special because I knew I could help someone,” she said.
For more information visit: https://dkms-africa.org/
