Family That Lost Two Children Finds Hope Through Advanced Stem Cell Transplant Performed at SGVP Holistic Hospital
Ahmedabad: A five-month-old baby born with a rare genetic immune deficiency that would almost certainly have proved fatal without treatment has successfully undergone a life-saving stem cell transplant at SGVP Holistic Hospital, Ahmedabad, highlighting how highly specialized pediatric transplant care is now becoming available within Gujarat itself.
The child was diagnosed with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), one of the most severe forms of Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders (PIDs), often referred to as the “Bubble Baby Disease.” Babies born with SCID lack a functional immune system and are unable to fight even common infections, making the first few months of life extremely dangerous.
The case carried a deep emotional burden for the family. The parents had previously lost two children within months of birth due to the same underlying genetic disorder, though the exact diagnosis had not been established at that time.
Determined to understand the cause, the couple underwent genetic testing during the mother’s next pregnancy. Prenatal investigations revealed that the unborn baby was affected by SCID.
“We were devastated after losing our first two children. When we learned about this diagnosis during pregnancy, we feared history would repeat itself. But this time we had answers, guidance, and hope. Today, seeing our child recover and smile feels nothing short of a miracle,” said the baby’s father.
A Disease That Can Be Detected Early
According to Dr. Vaibhav Shah, Pediatric Hemato-Oncologist at SGVP Holistic Hospital, SCID is a rare inherited disorder in which critical components of the immune system fail to develop properly.
“These children are born looking healthy, but within weeks they begin developing severe infections, recurrent pneumonia, persistent fever, fungal infections, diarrhea, poor weight gain, and repeated hospitalizations. Without treatment, many do not survive beyond infancy,” he explained.
Experts estimate that Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders comprise more than 400 genetically inherited diseases worldwide, with hundreds of children in India remaining undiagnosed every year.
Among the more commonly encountered immune deficiency disorders in India are:
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)
- X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia (XLA)
The disorders usually arise because both parents unknowingly carry a defective gene. When both pass the gene to the child, the baby is born with the disease.
Doctors can identify these conditions through specialized tests including:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Lymphocyte Subset Analysis by Flow Cytometry
- Immunoglobulin Profile
- Genetic Testing
- Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis in high-risk pregnancies
Dr. Shah emphasized that awareness among healthcare providers and parents is critical.
“Whenever there is a history of repeated infant deaths in a family, severe infections in early infancy, or unexplained recurrent hospital admissions, physicians should consider primary immunodeficiency and refer the child early to specialized centres. Timely diagnosis can save lives. Had such awareness and treatment been available to the family earlier, their previous children may also have had a chance at survival.”
Supportive Treatment Helps, But Transplant Is the Cure
Following birth, the baby was placed under strict infection precautions and received Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy to provide temporary protection against infections.
However, IVIG is only a supportive treatment.
“The definitive cure for SCID is a stem cell transplant. The objective is to replace the defective immune system with a healthy one so that the child can develop normal immunity and live a normal life,” said Dr. Shah.
One of Gujarat’s Few Advanced Haploidentical Transplants
The transplant team evaluated the family for a suitable donor. Although a sibling donor is generally preferred because of the possibility of a full match, no suitable match was available.
The medical team therefore proceeded with a Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplant, where the father became the donor and provided a half-matched stem cell graft.
The child first underwent a carefully planned chemotherapy-based conditioning regimen designed to eliminate the defective immune cells and create space for healthy donor cells.
Stem cells collected from the father were then processed using advanced Alpha-Beta T-Cell Depletion Technology, a sophisticated procedure that helps reduce transplant-related complications while improving the chances of successful immune reconstitution.
The processed stem cells were subsequently infused into the baby.
Over the following weeks, the transplanted stem cells successfully engrafted and began producing a new immune system.
The Most Critical Phase
While the transplant procedure itself is complex, experts say the weeks immediately following the transplant are often the most challenging.
For nearly two to three weeks after transplantation, the child’s immunity remains critically low, making even minor infections potentially life-threatening.
Managing such cases requires:
- Dedicated Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) support
- Specialized isolation facilities
- Advanced infection-control protocols
- Transfusion medicine support
- Pediatric hematology expertise
- Pediatric intensive care specialists
- Experienced pediatricians
- Specialized transplant nurses
- Microbiology and laboratory support
- Round-the-clock monitoring by multidisciplinary teams
Dr. Amit Chitaliya, Consultant – Pediatric Intensive Care & Respiratory Medicine and Head, SGVP Vatsalya, emphasized that infrastructure and teamwork are often as important as the transplant itself.
“These children are among the most vulnerable patients we treat. During the immediate post-transplant period, a simple infection can rapidly become life-threatening. Successful outcomes require meticulous infection control, dedicated isolation facilities, highly trained PICU teams, experienced nursing staff, and constant monitoring. It is the combined effort of pediatric intensivists, hematologists, pediatricians, microbiologists, nurses and support staff that ultimately helps these children safely cross the most critical phase of recovery.”
Bringing World-Class Care Closer to Home
According to the treating team, this SCID haploidentical transplant is among the first few such procedures performed in Gujarat and reflects the growing capability of advanced pediatric transplant programs within the state.
At SGVP Holistic Hospital, the transplant was supported by a multidisciplinary team comprising pediatric hemato-oncology, pediatric intensive care, pediatric medicine, transfusion medicine, microbiology, infection control specialists, transplant coordinators and specially trained nursing professionals working within dedicated transplant and critical care infrastructure.
Until recently, families dealing with such rare disorders often had very limited option in Gujarat and majority of them have to travel to major centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Bengaluru. The financial burden, travel costs, prolonged stay away from home, and emotional stress frequently added to an already difficult journey.
Today, however, advanced treatment facilities available in Ahmedabad are helping families access life-saving care closer to home.
“Families should know that such treatments are now available in Gujarat. With the right infrastructure, multidisciplinary expertise, dedicated pediatric intensive care support and stringent infection-control systems, outcomes can be comparable to leading national and international centres. This significantly reduces the emotional, logistical and financial burden on families who previously had to travel outside the state,” said Dr. Shah.
Having completed his fellowship training in Mumbai in 2019, Dr. Shah has since performed more than 300 bone marrow and stem cell transplants and has treated children with thalassemia, aplastic anemia, primary immunodeficiency disorders, and pediatric blood cancers.
Looking Ahead
Doctors expect the child to gradually develop a fully functional immune system over the coming months. Most medications will be reduced progressively as immunity improves.
Typically, children begin developing meaningful immune recovery within six months of transplantation and can lead normal lives within a year if recovery proceeds as expected.
The success of this case carries an important message for parents and healthcare providers alike: primary immunodeficiency disorders are rare, but they are no longer untreatable.
With early diagnosis, timely referral, and treatment at an experienced transplant centre such as SGVP Holistic Hospital, children born with these life-threatening disorders can be cured and go on to live healthy, productive lives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) is a rare inherited disorder in which a child is born without a functional immune system.
✓ Recurrent severe infections
✓ Repeated pneumonia
✓ Persistent fever
✓ Chronic diarrhea
✓ Poor weight gain
✓ Family history of infant deaths
✓ Frequent hospital admissions
Yes. In families with a known genetic mutation or previous affected children, prenatal genetic testing can identify the disease during pregnancy.
Yes. Stem cell transplantation is considered the definitive cure and can restore normal immunity if performed early.
A stem cell transplant performed using a half-matched donor, usually a parent, when a fully matched donor is unavailable.
Message for Parents
Early diagnosis saves lives. Children with primary immunodeficiency disorders can be cured if referred to an experienced transplant centre in time.
