Luka Simunac’s journey with Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA) turned into more than a battle for survival — it led him to discover a new family: his bone marrow donor and dozens of blood and platelet donors, 17 of whom he got to meet in person.
Now healthy, Luka, 15, had the opportunity to thank his donors, Wednesday, July 17, at the UCLA Blood & Platelet Center’s annual reunion luncheon. It was a heartwarming gathering filled with emotion and gratitude.
Luka was 13 when he was diagnosed with SAA, a very rare blood disorder that disrupts the body’s ability to produce blood cells due to bone marrow damage. Before his diagnosis, Luka enjoyed an active childhood playing soccer and being an older brother to his sister, Eva.
“We had a big soccer tournament one weekend and he felt extremely exhausted, winded and just could not keep up,” said Luka’s mother, Maya Polimac. “Then a few days later, I noticed he had these tiny bruises all over his legs and feet, and I knew that something had gone wrong and that this was no normal soccer bruising.”
The family took Luka to the Emergency Department at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. There, his bloodwork revealed exceptionally low counts of all three cell lines (white and red blood cells and platelets) – all symptoms of SAA.
Through the care of Satiro De Oliveira, MD, pediatric hematologist at UCLA Health and a member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Luka received 58 transfusions — 40 platelets and 18 whole blood units — over the next three months.
Luka’s reunion also included speeches by Dawn Ward, MD, medical director of the UCLA Human Gene and Cell Therapy Facility, and Eric de Cair, director of the Blood & Platelet Center.
With the care of the UCLA Health team and attending physicians, along with regular check-ups, Luka leads a normal, teenage life. This year, he will enter 10th grade as an honors student with aspirations to attend UCLA in the future.
“How do you thank somebody for saving your son’s life?” Polimac said at the reunion. “The amount of gratitude and emotion there are just no words I mean what they did is truly remarkable.”
Dr. De Oliveira nodded in agreement.
“This is a beautiful event. It is a celebration for all of us. For Luka and his family, but also a celebration of our history of success of everyone helping the whole treatment,” he said. “It is a jump into the unknown. And the support from the blood donors is what makes it all possible.”
