SEAToday.com, Jakarta-Good news for Indonesian children who need stem cell transplant to cure their disease was shared by Tzu Chi Hospital in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. On Friday (2/2) the hospital announced they successfully conducted the first ever stem cell transplant for Assyifa Balqis, age 11 years old.

Assyifa was diagnosed with Thalasemia Beta Major since September 2022, along with her younger sister, Khansa. Thalasemia beta major is an inherited genetically disorder which attacking the red blood cells, so the oxygen distribution distrupted, and the patient need a routine blood transfusion.

One of the method to cure this abnormality is by doing stem cell transplant. It means replacing the broken cells with the new healthy cells from ourself or the donor.

And Assyifa undergo the series of stem cell transplant since june 2023 at Tzu Chi Hospital in Pademangan, North Jakarta. The procedur consist of four months screening to cure infections in her body. The next step was injecting the new cells aqcuired from her younger brother, Sultan Muhammad Alfatih as donor, on November 20.

One month after transplantation and isolation, on 20 December to be exact, Tzu Chi Hospital medical team confirmed that the injected new cells is growing and conclude the stem cell transplant was a success.

Kiki Kurnia Dewi, Assyifa’s mother said she’s grateful with all the procedurs done, “I am very grateful and hope Assyifa will be better in the future, and her recovery will be running smoothly, and for all of Thalassemia patients out there, you don’t need to go overseas, because the facilities right here is good and complete.”  

Assyifa is now still under observation of the medical team, while waiting the best time to go home, followed by monitoring up to six years until concluded as normal.

“This method is new in Indonesia, but if we look the medical journals abroad, the transplantation is promising, with a good method and fulfilled criteria in the indicated children to transplant, the chance to extend their life is 80 to 90 percent”, said Edi Setiawan Tehiteru, Pediatrician, Hematology Oncology Consultant

Tzu Chi Hospital will conduct the second stem cell transplant to a younger patient, on February 7. This time, the patient is 7 years old. (NUGO/DKD)