Mumbai: Blood donors save pregnant woman

Deepali Khairmode was admitted with a low haemoglobin level

A 31-year-old pregnant woman with the rare Para-Bombay blood group was admitted to KEM Hospital hours before her delivery. The woman's haemoglobin level was so low that the life of both - the mother and the child - was at risk. The family, running from the pillar post, tried their best to get the required blood units, however, childbirth had to be postponed due to the rarity and unavailability of blood. Finally, with the help of an NGO and four Samaritans with Bombay blood groups, the woman gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Tuesday.

The patient's husband Sagar Khairmode said, "Our family will be in debt to Think Foundation, donors, and Kem Hospital for helping us in our hard times. We have decided that in the future if anyone needs blood, we will help them." Prakash Ganage, brother of patient Deepali, said, "Her routine check-up was done at Wadia hospital. But somehow they were not able to detect her blood group and her blood sample was sent to Hiranandani hospital."

"On Saturday, they asked us to take Deepali to Kem Hospital. The doctor there told us that she has a Para-Bombay blood group which is very rare. She needed at least four units as her haemoglobin level was at 6 gms/dl. We looked for it in more than 17 blood banks but we couldn't find it," he added. Ganage said, "Finally, one of the doctors from KEM Hospital asked us to contact Vinay Shetty from Think Foundation. We found donors and I received all four units on Tuesday."

The Vice-President of Think Foundation, Vinay Shetty, said, "As soon as their family member put the requirement of blood on social media, I received as many as 30 calls from people willing to help." He added in Maharashtra there are around 200 people with Bombay blood groups, however, there are just around 10 people in Maharashtra with rare Para-Bombay blood group.

Nitin Sarak, 35, a civic employee and a resident of Worli, said, "Six years ago, I donated blood at a camp organised at Saifee Hospital. There I was informed that I have a very rare blood group. Since then I have been donating blood as and when needed." Another donor Jude Joel from Kurla, who is a pilot in Indigo airline said, "Even my wife faced the same problem when she was pregnant. Her blood group is AB+. So I am aware of what families have to face. If I am not flying, I donate blood if anyone needs it." Krishanand Kori, 52, a resident of Kalyan, working in defence, said, "Since the time I was informed that my blood group is rare, I donate blood whenever someone is in need."

"In Para-Bombay blood group, a small amount of H, A, B antigen is produced in plasma which sticks to red cells, making the detection of blood group trickier," said Dr Rinku Bhatia, Head of Department, Transfusion Medicine, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital.