Steffi Mac is a cancer survivor from Ahmedabad, Gujarat who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in October 2013. For almost a year, her life was an ongoing fight against the disease until a bone marrow donation from complete stranger thousands of miles away saved her life.
Two years after she received this invaluable gift, she met the woman who gave it so selflessly and was so thankful she invited her to her wedding.
Ms Mac recently spoke to SBS Gujarati about the most challenging time of her life and the stranger who saved her.
The first chemotherapy disturbed Steffi
Steffi, the only child of her parents, was mentally ready to fight cancer but found herself disturbed as she lost her hair after chemotherapy.
She surprised everyone by gifting a wig of her falling hair to her parents on their marriage anniversary.
“I finally accepted it and got used it,” Ms Mac said.
Steffi during her treatment in Vellore near Chennai. Source: Steffi Mac
Bone marrow transplant
Following the chemotherapy phase, Ms Mac needed a bone marrow transplant - procedure which replaces damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. Siblings are often ideal donors for a patient but few patients find a matched donor within their own family.
Ms Mac's hospital initially searched for a donor in India but unable to find a match in her country, her doctors took a chance and looked into the European registry and found Aylin.
The woman who saved her
Aylin lived in Germany thousands of kilometers away from Ahmedabad where Ms Mac was receiving her treatment. The two women had nine out of 10 parameters matching in their bone marrow. The operation took place in March 2014.
“[This] German woman; a complete stranger gave her marrow to save my life," Ms Mac said.
Steffi with her donor Aylin during her India visit. Source: Steffi Mac
Finding and meeting her donor
Ethics governing bone marrow transplant dictates donors and receivers cannot contact each other for at least two years following an operation. But Ms Mac was keen to know who saved her life, so she waited.
Finally, after almost two years she requested her donor's details and contacted her via Facebook. Last year, Ms Mac travelled to Germany to meet Aylin in person.
“I was very anxious and we were very emotional when we met," Ms Mac told SBS Gujarati.
"Aylin had brought her entire family to the airport to receive me. I stayed with her for ten days and now she is part of my family.”
Changes to her body
The transplant changed Ms Mac's body, in more ways than one.
"I have now two souls in my body. One is mine and the other one is of my donor Aylin," she said.
"Her cells have changed my body. My hair used to be wavy but is straight now. And my skin-tone is also changing. Whenever I want to try other dishes, I need to ask her if she has faced any reactions to these foods as I am likely to have the same reaction."
Steffi and her husband Jeffy enjoys every bit of their life. Source: Steffi Mac
Staying strong through the ordeal
During her fight with cancer, Ms Mac ot a lot of support from her parents. They stood by her throughout the journey. At the same time, she also got a lot of courage and mental support from her long-time boyfriend, Jeffy.
"When I was diagnosed with cancer, I informed Jeffy. I tried to break up with him as I was not sure about my future. I did not want to ruin his life," she said.
"But he refused to let go. Every evening he used to come to my home, spend time with my family and me and give the mental support we all needed.
"Jeffy proposed and in January 2018, we got married. Aylin, who has given me new life, was also present at our wedding. That made it even more special and I will cherish it forever."
Steffi with her husband Jeffy on a day of their wedding. Source: Steffi Mac
Bright things ahead
After she recovered, Ms Mac went onto complete her PhD. Then in June 2016 she started work in the English department at St. Xavier’s College in Ahmedabad.
She has now also launched a YouTube channel, 'Can We Not', with the aim of assisting the loved ones of cancer patients through the struggle of diagnosis and treatment.
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