Inspired by The Sky Is Pink, Sharvari’s Powerful Journey as a Blood Stem Cell Donor.
For Sharvari, it was a regular day, somewhere between Instagram posts and daily distractions in 2020. She came across a video about DKMS, and that piqued her interest. She says her motivation was further strengthened after watching ‘The Sky is Pink’ and Dhruv Rathee's video on DKMS. She later registered as a stem cell donor, hoping that someday she would come up as a match.
Sharvari is an entrepreneur in the finance domain. “My knowledge about blood cancer and blood-related disorders is limited to academics, especially books on biology, and general knowledge books. There were no instances of blood cancer or blood disorders in my family that I could relate to. However, digitally, I was exposed to mixed messaging about the cause and awareness. This helped me to go ahead and register with DKMS.”
When Sharvari came up as a match, the reaction was natural: excitement and a mixed wave of self-doubt. “I was a little worried that my unhealthy lifestyle might affect eligibility and could delay the patient's transplant time.” Eventually, these concerns didn’t overshadow the opportunity for her to make a difference in a patient's life.
Initial reactions from the family were discouraging, recalls Sharvari. Her mother was concerned for her safety, which also stemmed from fear of the unknown. However, over time, as awareness grew, the family became clearer of the process and their hesitation turned into solid support. This feeling was translated after the donation was completed. My grandfather was the proudest of my decision to donate. Her mother accompanied Sharvari during the PBSC donation process. When asked about how she prepared herself, she says, “I felt my temporary discomfort is not even 1% of that of the recipient who is dealing with a life-threatening disease.”
The journey to the collection center wasn’t without its challenges. The side effects of GCSF injections caused muscle aches, and the long commute added to the discomfort. Yet there was an undeniable sense of purpose, a willpower to do something meaningful.
Clear communication from the medical team at DKMS ensured that every step of the process felt seamless. Post-donation, Sharvari mentioned she felt an instant sense of relief. Emotionally, she felt she fulfilled her purpose. Her journey doesn’t end here. Sharvari emphasizes that stem cell donation is a powerful chance to save lives. Patients are real people; they could be parents, children, and friends, desperately waiting for a match, and many cannot survive without one. A single donor can give multiple people a chance at survival, making the need urgent and constant. Sharvari encourages registered donors not to back out, as temporary discomfort can mean everything to someone dealing with life-threatening conditions. For those about to donate, her message reflects reassurance and motivation: “trust your decision, stay healthy, and remember that a few days of discomfort can add years to someone’s life, making the entire experience deeply meaningful and worthwhile,” she said.
Sharvari signs off with a message to her recipient, “Hi HLA twin, hope I gave you a fighting chance. I’m so sorry you’re going through such a difficult ailment, but I’m pretty positive our HLA type is that of a fighter! You’re in my thoughts every day, and I hope you recover soon! I don’t know how science works, but if you suddenly hate cauliflower or find yourself attracted to Polynesian men now, that’s probably coming from me and my stem cells. At least, that’s what Bollywood films have me believing, haha.”
How You Can Help
If Sharvari’s donation story inspired you, you too can register as a potential stem cell donor and help save a life.
All you need to do is check your eligibility and sign up today at https://www.dkms-india.org/register-now
Anyone aged 18 to 55 and in general good health can register as a potential lifesaver. If you're not eligible or you're already registered, check out some of the other ways to get involved in spreading awareness about stem cell donation to help provide second chances at life to people with blood cancer and other blood disorders. Together, we can make a difference.
