Stem cell donated a decade ago calls Malayali NRI home in 2025 to save a life

A Malayali youngster working in the UAE's Ajman has stepped forward to save the life of a ten-year-old boy battling blood cancer. Amjad Rahman, a native of Chendamangallur, has flown down to Kerala from the UAE for the rare mission. Fondly called Amju by his loved ones, he is set to donate blood stem cells — a procedure that only one in a million people worldwide are found eligible for. A sample Amjad had given during a blood stem cell donation camp at MAMO College more than a decade ago has now become a ray of hope for the child’s survival. While for most it was just another routine test, Amjad believed deep within that one day it might help save a life.

That belief has now borne fruit 11 years later. Stem cells are used in the treatment of blood cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma, as well as bone marrow disorders. In Kerala, an extensive search had been underway to find a matching donor for a child suffering from one such rare ailment. Against the one-in-a-million odds, the search led back to Amjad. He, however, has no knowledge of the child’s identity or where in Kerala he lives. “I will only get to see the child after the donation,” Amjad told us.

Donation next week
When the child’s family reached out to him with their hopes and prayers, Amjad accepted the call as destiny. “This was an opportunity given by the Almighty, so I am taking it up,” he said before leaving for Kerala, reflecting both his faith and kindness. Once he committed to the mission, Amjad returned home in July to undergo the mandatory medical tests at the hospital. He is scheduled to donate the stem cells next week, staying under medical care until the procedure is complete.

Employer extends full support
Amjad’s employer, C T Shamsu Saman, owner of the Habitat Group, wholeheartedly supported the mission, granting him leave and providing all necessary assistance. His friends and family, too, have rallied around him. “Sometimes it feels like his entire life is devoted to service. He can never say ‘no’ to anyone who seeks his help,” say Amjad’s friends, proud of how he has stepped in as a saviour for a child he has never met.