Boy, 2, receives donated hematopoietic stem cells

Ti Gong

Wang Donghua, 34, became the 400th hematopoietic stem cell donor in the city on Wednesday, with a 2-year-old boy, suffering from leukemia, a recipient of it.

Wang has been a blood donor for years. In May 2016, he attended a hematopoietic stem cell donating event in Jinshan District and registered as a member of the China Marrow Donor Program. In October last year, he received a call from the Red Cross Society and was made aware that his hematopoietic stem cells matched a baby boy. 

Seeking time, Wang discussed the issue with his family and eventually gained their support. On Wednesday morning, he went through a 3-hour process at Huashan Hospital. The transplantation was carried out the same day.

"My parents first couldn't understand it because they thought the hospital would take my bone marrow for transplantation. I explained to them that the cells are from the peripheral blood and it would not harm my health," Wang said.

Donating hematopoietic stem cells, Wang said, was like planting the seeds of hope on those who needed it.

In Shanghai, only two hospitals — Huashan Hospital and Shanghai General Hospital — offer hematopoietic stem cell collecting service. The cell transplantation process can be done at eight other places. 

By end of 2017, the number of volunteers for hematopoietic stem cell had reached 427.