Make Blood Donation a Habit: It Can Change Lives

I am Diana Abou Hamia and I have lived with thalassaemia for as long as I can remember. My condition was a constant challenge, and I was all too familiar with the painful symptoms that often left me feeling drained and exhausted. But despite the challenges, I never gave up hope that one day I would find a cure.

Years went by, and I continued to receive regular blood transfusions. But as time passed, I become more and more discouraged. I longed for a permanent solution that would free me from the endless cycle of treatments and hospital visits. I continued to take my treatments and medications on time to maintain good health, eagerly awaiting any treatment that could cure me. With this in mind, I encourage all patients to never give up and to take good care of their bodies, because there is always hope!

One day, Waked’s family in Panama called to tell me some exciting news. A donation to fund my bone marrow transplant. They had made this decision after their son passed away in the hospital during a major surgery and wanted to perform an act of charity that was both enduring and unforgettable—to offer me hope for a renewed life, possibly curing my condition. My brother was the bone marrow donor, born as a gift from God after my parents’ relationship was unstable for 10 years and ended in divorce following my transplant.

Overwhelmed with joy and hope, I underwent the procedure and began the long road to recovery. The first few weeks were tough. I felt weak and tired, and my body struggled to adjust to the new cells. But with time, I experienced a remarkable transformation. my condition improved significantly, much to the amazement of my doctors who were astonished at my body’s resilience and the way it had adapted to the new transplant.

As years went by, my life continued to change for the better. I was able to pursue my dreams and passions with newfound energy and enthusiasm, and thalassaemia became a distant memory. Looking back on my journey, I feel grateful to my brother, the bone marrow donor, who suffered greatly to give me another life.

I am thankful to my family, my parents, my friends, Waked’s and other Kamed El-louz families who live in Panama who had supported and never given up on me. I knew that I had been given a second chance in life, and I was determined to make the most of it.

Now, eight years forward, I leverage my experience and phlebotomy treatments to champion blood donation and support fellow thalassaemia patients in their search for donors. My message is clear: consider making blood donation part of your routine—it could change lives!

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