From The Hindu · The Hindu Bureau · · 1m 30s
Donor travels 300 km for rare blood match
A blood donor from Chikkamagaluru drove over five hours to save a three-year-old boy with an extremely rare blood type.
In brief
A blood donor from Chikkamagaluru drove over five hours to save a three-year-old boy with an extremely rare blood type. Mahesh Kumar travelled over three hundred kilometres from Chikkamagaluru to Dharwad to donate Bombay blood group blood to three year old Abhinandan, who needed it urgently for an inherited bleeding…
Child in crisis with rare blood type
Three year old Abhinandan was in critical condition after severe bleeding caused his haemoglobin level to fall sharply. He needed compatible blood urgently.
What makes Bombay blood so rare
The Bombay blood group, or hh phenotype, is extremely rare and distinct from usual ABO blood groups. People with it lack the H antigen on red blood cells.
Why ordinary blood won't work
People with Bombay phenotype cannot receive ordinary O group blood. They require compatible blood, usually from another Bombay phenotype donor.
Search for a matching donor begins
Following an appeal by Abhinandan's father Mahantesh, the Swami Vivekananda Blood Donors Foundation launched a search for a compatible donor.
Donor makes the long journey
Mahesh Kumar, a rare blood donor from Chikkamagaluru, agreed to donate after being contacted by foundation founder Shivakumar Rattihalli. He travelled over five hours to SDM Hospital in Dharwad.
Life saving donation completed
After completing necessary procedures, Mahesh Kumar donated a unit of Bombay group blood to Abhinandan at SDM Hospital in Dharwad.
The main idea
Mahesh Kumar travelled over three hundred kilometres from Chikkamagaluru to Dharwad to donate Bombay blood group blood to three year old Abhinandan, who needed it urgently for an inherited bleeding disorder.
