In a remarkable medical breakthrough, doctors at Warith International Hospital for Oncology and Al-Mujtaba Hospital for Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation—both affiliated with the Health and Medical Education Authority of the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine—successfully cured two-and-a-half-year-old Layan Jassim Muhammad of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) following a complex bone marrow transplant from her father.

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Wajid Kamal, a pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant specialist, explained, “Layan came to us suffering from severe pain and persistent high fever. After thorough examination, our medical team diagnosed her with acute myeloid leukemia and determined she urgently needed a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, initial compatibility tests showed no match from her mother or twin sister.”

However, a turning point came when tests revealed a complete 100% tissue match with her father, giving doctors the green light to proceed with the transplant.

“The operation was a major success,” Dr. Kamal added. “Layan began a strict two-month recovery in a sterile, high-standard medical environment. The success of such a procedure at her young age is considered rare and exceptional in the field of bone marrow transplantation.”

He also noted that consanguineous marriage was a contributing factor in the genetic compatibility between Layan and her father, making the match possible.

Layan’s father expressed profound gratitude to the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine and its medical staff, saying, “They restored hope to our family. My daughter’s treatment was completely free and carried out using the latest medical technology and advanced Iraqi expertise.”

This milestone underscores the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine’s growing role as a national leader in offering free, high-quality specialized care to children with cancer and other serious illnesses, as part of its ongoing humanitarian mission to serve the people of Iraq.