Tashnika needs a perfect match

TASHNIKA Rambali is looking for her perfect match, a match which could save her life.

Tashnika was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia one month after celebrating her 18th birthday in December last year. Her signs were very mild, just a few random unexplained bruises on her body and a minor cut on her finger of which the blood from the cut simply would not clot to form a scab.

Her family was numb with shock when learning of her diagnosis. In time they realised they needed to stand together and fight the illness as a family. They have been her strength, her support and her motivation helping her not to feel so alone since her diagnosis.

After the first phase of chemo, Tashnika went into remission but her doctor has confirmed that she will need to undergo a bone marrow stem cell transplant in order to survive. Her only sibling has been tested but proved to be an unsuccessful match. The chances of finding a bone marrow stem cell donor match are 1:100 000 within her own ethnic group.

Tashnika said: “My family and I like many others have been so self-absorbed in our own lives in the past that we did not spare a thought for the many people fighting this life threatening disease. It’s only when it personally affects someone we love that we take the time to empower ourselves with knowledge and ways to help others. Why wait and restrict it only to the ones we love when we can help save thousands of lives every day by becoming registered bone marrow stem cell donors.”

It only takes two test tubes of blood to become a donor and if you are a successful match, bone marrow is not surgically removed but additional white blood cells are harvested.

“It costs The Sunflower Fund R2000 to test the blood of every person who joins the Registry. If you are able to donate towards the cost of the test it is much appreciated otherwise donors can ask to be sponsored in full by The Sunflower Fund,” said Stephanie Berry, PR and event specialist for The Sunflower Fund in Durban.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 45, weigh more than 50kgs with a BMI of <35 and have no history of sexually transmitted diseases and would like to find out more about becoming a bone marrow stem cell donor, contact The Sunflower Fund toll free 0800 12 10 82, weekdays between 8.30am and 4.30pm or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za