Stem cell donor drive underway to save young mother of 2

A stem cell donor drive is underway in Calgary to try to save the life of a mother of two who has been diagnosed with leukemia.

When Sunny Singh’s sister first mentioned she wasn’t feeling well during a family wedding last July, no one imagined it would lead to a desperate cross-country search for a life-saving donor.

Hapi Dhesi, a Calgary-raised mother of two who now lives in Regina, was diagnosed with leukemia in September.

“We were actually all together as a family in July, attending a wedding,” Singh said.

“She started to complain about some aches and possible infections. That went on for about a month or so. August and into September. She found out, unfortunately, that she was diagnosed with leukemia.”

After Singh learned he was only a 50 per cent match for his sister, the family turned to the public for help.

This week, the community responded in force, attending a stem cell donor drive at the Dashmesh Culture Centre in Calgary.

“It’s awesome. It’s really good,” Singh said.

“One great thing about the South Asian community is we all really stick together. A core kind of principle of our faith and religion is to give back to others.

“This is great to get the community support behind this cause. I think it will help not only my sister, hopefully, but a lot of other people.”

Diversity gap in donors

Dhesi’s struggle highlights a critical gap in Canada’s donor diversity.

Approximately 1,000 patients across the country are waiting for stem cell transplants.

However, the chances of finding a successful match are heavily dependent on a donor’s ancestral and ethnic background.

According to Canadian Blood Services (CBS), ethnic communities remain significantly underrepresented in the national registry.

While Caucasian donors make up most of the pool (66 per cent), those who are Black, Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic or mixed-race collectively make up only one-third of registrants.

“If you’re between the ages of 17 (and) 35, you’re eligible to become a stem cell donor for patients in need,” said Lisa Castro with Canadian Blood Services.

“We’re really trying to build the diversity in our community for this donor base. Our population should reflect our donor bases.”

Simple process with high stakes

For many, the hesitation to join the registry comes from a misunderstanding of the process.

Potential donors simply register online and complete a painless mouth swab.

“It takes five minutes. It’s four little swabs. You put one in each corner of your mouth, and it helps, right?” said Parm Gill, Dhesi’s cousin.

Gill did the swab on Friday and is waiting to find out if he’s someone’s match.

The impact of that five-minute commitment is visible in survivors like Harjeet Kaur.

Diagnosed with stage 4 blood cancer in 2019, Kaur is alive today because her brother was a match for a transplant.

“I’m so grateful that we see a lot of people here today,” Kaur said.

“I did share about my journey of stage 4 cancer and a stem cell transplant. I think that will help people because I’m here—living proof that a stem cell transplant helped save my life.”

The donor drive at the Dashmesh Culture Centre continues through Sunday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Anyone between the ages of 17 and 35 is encouraged to attend.