Sibling bone marrow transplant saves 19-year-old leukemia patient

Arda Kaan Duran, a 19-year-old student from Manisa, has begun recovering following a successful bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia. After experiencing sudden fever and fatigue, Duran was diagnosed with the disease and transferred to Izmir City Hospital for advanced treatment.

Medical teams, led by Prof. Dr. Oktay Bilgir, initiated intensive chemotherapy to control the illness. Following tissue compatibility screenings among relatives and the TÜRKÖK database, it was determined that Duran’s 16-year-old sister, Defne Duran, was a perfect match. Defne volunteered to be the donor, and the transplant of healthy stem cells was successfully performed.

After a critical 12-day post-operative period, medical staff reported that the new cells have begun to take hold and blood values are returning to normal. Arda Kaan Duran expressed deep gratitude to his sister, while Defne stated she would have donated to anyone in need.