Saviour Sibling

The HLA report says we are a mirror-match,

Perfect 10 on 10 scores that I can lay on my badge,

Shunned by our neighbors, who will help you, Oh brother?

I say “here I am”, therefore, do not bother.

The doctor told us, you have blood cancer,

Albeit, the beam of hope shall dawn again,

Despite me being only eight and you eleven,

I am willing to give my stem cells into your vein.

They say as a minor, I bear a limited capacity to consent,

Trust me, to help you; I can go to whatever extent,

Our mom is in a dilemma, for here lies her healthy son,

Ready to help the “not-so-healthy” one.

Ethical concerns will stay for minors to donate,

By pitching in likewise, I wish to reciprocate,

Many hours spent in agonizing consideration,

For letting you undergo stem cell transplantation.

I wish to offer the gift of life to you my kin,

For this very reason, my life’s creation has been,

In the heavenly realms as I was instructed by God,

To run to earth and be your “Saviour sibling.”

Conflict of Interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgement

The author gratefully acknowledges the support of Dr. Anuradha Kusum, Professor and Head, Department of Pathology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Swami Ram Nagar, Jolly Grant Dehradun for her kind help towards the critical appraisal of the poem.

Publication History

Received: 20 April 2020

Accepted: 03 May 2020

Article published online:
23 May 2021