People donate rare ‘Bombay blood group’ blood to give ailing UP infant a second chance at life

Mumbai, Dec 12: A 15-month-old son of a farmer from Uttar Pradesh, was born with a lethal combination of heart disease and a rare blood group called as 'Bombay blood group. The child underwent a heart

By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | | Published: December 13, 2014 1:21 pm

Mumbai, Dec 12: A 15-month-old son of a farmer from Uttar Pradesh, was born with a lethal combination of heart disease and a rare blood group called as ‘Bombay blood group. The child underwent a heart surgery at All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi. Although the heart operation was an intricate affair, the problem with the child was the unavailability of his blood group at all the medical centres in the national capital. But luck favoured him, as three donors, a Pune executive and two Mumbaikars, cam forward to donate blood to this child. (Read: 7 symptoms of congenital heart disease)

How was this case different from other heart surgeries?

A resident of Gorakhpur, Sandesh Kumar’s son was suffering from congenital heart disease and born with a blood group that currently not more than 190 Indian are living with. As Arun’s , his son, condition was deteriorating day-by-day, doctors recommended urgent surgery to treat this condition. But, the problem was to find donors with the same blood group — Bombay blood group. Unfortunately, not a single blood bank in Delhi had one unit of this blood and some people have heard it for the first time.

However, one of the kumar’s acquantacnes took the online help to track people with this rare blood group and found that around 10 people in Maharashtra have Bombay blood group. With the help of Think Foundation NGO, who sent a message across the state to donate blood for a child’s operation in Mumbai. As soon as Prabodh Yatnalkar, a pune resident, read this message; he had no second thoughts and came to Mumbai to donate Mumbai. The other two people from Mumbai Alex Fernandes (48), Chembur and Mehul Bhelekar (29), Borivli took time from their packed schedule to donate blood. (Read: 7 innovative ways to keep your child’s heart healthy)

What is the Bombay blood group?

Bombay blood group is a type of blood group that has no ‘H’ antigen. People usually have either of A, B, AB or O blood groups hich have H antigens. For example, a person with A blood group will have type A antigens and anti B antibodies (immune cells that fight against antigens other than their own antigens, in this case they produce antibodies against B). Apart from A, B and O blood group, we also have an antigen known as H antigen.

However, people with Bombay blood group do not have a H antigen meaning they have anti-a, anti-B and anti-H antibodies in their blood. So transfusion of blood from people with blood group A, B, AB or O (which contains H antigens) will cause a reaction (acute haemolytic transfusion reaction) in the body leading to serious health complications. (Read: Mangalore docs perform open heart surgery on woman with rare blood group)

Image Source: Getty Images

Published : December 13, 2014 1:21 pm

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