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Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news. Dharwad : In a remarkable act of humanity, a rare blood donor travelled more than 300km from Chikkamagaluru to Dharwad to donate Bombay blood, one of the world’s rarest blood groups, to save the life of a three-year-old boy suffering from an inherited bleeding disorder. Mahesh’s willingness to undertake a long journey in the middle of the night to help save a child he had never met drew appreciation on social media. The incident also highlighted how voluntary blood donation and timely coordination can offer hope to patients in critical situations, transcending geographical and social boundaries. Download the TOI App.
The child urgently required one unit of Bombay blood, but finding a suitable donor proved difficult due to the rarity of the blood group. Responding to an appeal from the child’s father, Mahantesh, the Swami Vivekananda Blood Donors Foundation (R) launched a search for a donor. Abhinandan, who was undergoing treatment at SDM Hospital in Dharwad, was in critical condition after severe bleeding caused his haemoglobin level to drop drastically. Its founder, Shivakumar Rattihalli, contacted Mahesh Kumar , a rare blood donor from Chikkamagaluru, and informed him about the child’s critical condition. Realising the urgency, Mahesh readily agreed to donate blood and set out for Dharwad. After travelling for more than five hours and covering over 300km, he reached SDM Hospital, completed the necessary procedures at the blood bank and donated one unit of Bombay blood for the child. Blood bank staff member Puneeth was present on the occasion. The timely intervention highlighted the importance of rare blood donor networks during emergencies. Since Bombay blood is extremely uncommon, finding a compatible donor at short notice can be challenging.