My Mother is My "Why"

Hi,

My name is Alaina Ahuja, and in the fall of 2024, my mother, Neelofar Ahuja, was at home when she received a life-changing phone call from her primary doctor. She had been diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Our lives were transformed with that one phone call.

The months that followed were a blur of hospital visits, blood transfusions, and bone marrow biopsies. Now, my mother is working through her treatment and still fighting battles every day. To bring more awareness and support to victims like her worldwide, I decided to combine my passion in computer programming to launch Hack for Marrow.

Aplastic anemia can leave patients feeling isolated and hopeless, but through this event, we aim to turn that darkness into light. This hackathon will bring together young minds from all walks of life to collaborate on solutions that can provide support to the hundreds of families struggling with bone marrow failures. 

This event will not only challenge participants to think creatively about healthcare innovations but also raise essential funds for the AAMDSIF (Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation), which provides research, support, and hope to those in need.

I hope that the support we can provide to those struggling with these illnesses can ensure that no mother ever has to leave her home for a hospital or love her kids through a phone screen.

Funds raised will go directly to AAMDSIF, enabling them to continue their critical work in research and patient support. For me, this is about honoring my mother’s strength and resilience while empowering other teens to become part of something larger than themselves—a movement for care, compassion, and change.

Together, we can inspire hope and make a real impact in the fight against aplastic anemia.