In a heartwarming celebration of life and selflessness, the Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP) hosts a Donor-Recipient Meet on September 21, 2024, to mark World Marrow Donor Day. Ten pairs of donors and recipients meet for the first time, their lives forever linked by the gift of life-saving transplants.
Among the inspiring stories is that of Jerlene Xie Yu Jie, 39, whose bone marrow donation gave 76-year-old Ting Chew Thai the strength to fight leukaemia. Then there’s 26-year-old Nur Siti Zubaidah, whose selfless act freed 12-year-old Ria Nadira from the grip of thalassemia, while Engineer Lim Wee Kiat, 32, donated his marrow to 9-year-old Ho Wen Qing, giving her a second chance at life.
Jerlene Xie: A Lifesaving Choice for Mr. Ting
Jerlene Xie never expected that signing up at a company event would one day save a life. Her bone marrow donation allowed Mr. Ting, a retired businessman diagnosed with leukaemia, to undergo a high-risk transplant, his only chance at survival. Despite the challenges, Mr. Ting is deeply grateful for the second chance at life.
A Gift of Hope: Nur Siti Zubaidah and Ria Nadira
Nur Siti Zubaidah, a 26-year-old student care teacher, had no idea her decision to become a donor would change the life of Ria Nadira, diagnosed with thalassemia at just eight years old. After years of enduring frequent blood transfusions, Ria’s world transformed when she received Siti’s life-saving marrow donation. Today, Ria no longer needs transfusions and is free to enjoy the life every child deserves.
Engineer Lim Wee Kiat’s Life-changing Donation
Lim Wee Kiat’s decision to sign up as a marrow donor during his university years came from an unexpected place—impressing a crush, who later became his wife. Years later, his commitment paid off when he was matched with Ho Wen Qing, a young girl battling aplastic anaemia. Wee Kiat’s selfless act allowed Wen Qing to fight her illness and begin a healthier, happier life.
This World Marrow Donor Day, these stories remind us of the extraordinary power of compassion and generosity. Through marrow donation, ordinary people have become heroes, giving the gift of life to those in need.
