14-Year-Old Boy Defeats Rare Leukaemia After Complex Bone Marrow Transplant at Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital, Mumbai
Mumbai: On the occasion of National Cancer Awareness Day, Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital shines a light on a powerful story of courage and medical excellence — that of 14-year-old Harsh Raj from Bihar, who overcame one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of blood cancer through a complex Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT).
Harsh was diagnosed with Mixed Phenotypic Leukemia (MPL), a rare cancer accounting for less than 10% of childhood leukemia cases, known for its difficult diagnosis and poor response to standard chemotherapy. Coming from a remote village in Bihar — over 200 kilometers from the nearest hospital — Harsh’s family undertook a long journey to Mumbai, seeking a last ray of hope.
At Narayana Health, SRCC Children’s Hospital, Mumbai, evaluation by the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant team led by Dr. Chintan Vyas, identified BMT as his only curative option. With no fully matched donor available within the family, Dr. Chintan Vyas, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Oncology, Haemato-Oncology & BMT, Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital, and his team opted for a haploidentical (50% matched) transplant — a highly sophisticated and high-risk procedure that exemplifies the advancements in modern pediatric transplant medicine.
Talking about the complexity of this particular case, Dr. Vyas further added, “Cases like Harsh’s test every facet of pediatric cancer care — from diagnosis to transplant and post-transplant recovery. Mixed phenotypic leukemias are rare and resistant, but with timely referral and advanced transplant techniques, even these challenging cases can achieve complete remission.”
Despite multiple complications, including a severe BK virus infection that threatened bladder function, coordinated multidisciplinary care and advanced medical support helped Harsh make a full recovery. Today, he is cancer-free, back in school, and living a normal, healthy life after his transplant.
Dr. Zubin Pereira, Facility Director, Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital, Mumbai added, “Harsh’s recovery is not just a medical achievement — it’s a symbol of equitable healthcare. It underscores our mission to deliver world-class pediatric oncology and transplant care to every child.”
Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital, Mumbai, continues to be one of the few dedicated paediatric centres in India offering comprehensive advanced paediatric cancer care, and multidisciplinary expertise under one roof.
