SUCCESS!!
When my best friend, Robert, first approached me with the idea of ‘going public’ to mobilize South Asians from around the country to register as bone marrow donors, I was quite hesitant, particularly as an entrepreneur running a business at a crucial inflection point. But Robert persisted and put my worries to rest, more or less saying, “Just let us use your name and we’ll take care of the rest.”
Whenever I’ve allowed my crazy friend - also my first business partner - to act on his incredible instincts, something fantastic has happened. But this time, the results have been outside the realm of all reasonable possibilities or expectations.
Ladies and gentlemen, I was informed today that, through a miracle of God, a 10 out of 10 match has been found for me!!
Let that sink in for a second…this is truly a miracle that came through literally at the last minute. If this match had been found even next week, it’s not clear that it would have been in time given that I need some sort of transplant within 4 weeks. This is a case of God simply picking up a boon and dropping it in our laps…how else can one explain such unbelievable fortune??
This match appears to have come from the 400+ bone marrow registration drives that Teams Vinay and Sameer have put forth, registering nearly 24,000 donors to-date. Priti Radhakrishnan has been the national coordinator and driving force behind the Team Vinay drives, which kicked off several weeks before ours, and Robert mobilized many of my friends to join them and begin organizing drives nationally. Literally hundreds and hundreds of volunteers have been working tirelessly during the past two months to register tens of thousands of South Asians. The result? An increase of South Asian representation in the national bone marrow registry by 20%.
Knowing that our friends and volunteers have leveraged my situation to do something so valuable for the next batch of patients has been very satisfying for me. Recently I was also informed that two other patients have found matches through our drives, which has been even more thrilling. But, as I’ve stated publicly many times, me finding a match through this process was going to be close to impossible.
First, let’s look at the numbers: 1 out of 20,000 South Asians finds a match. If those odds weren’t tough enough, my search team at the Hutch found that I have an unusual gene on my father’s side of the family, which would prove to be extremely difficult to match. (In fact, we went the extra mile to type all of my cousins on that side of the family, and the closest we got was a 2/6 match.) To boot, it would take 4-6 weeks for any new registrant from a drive to show up in the national database, and I would need many more than 20,000 new registrants to have a statistical chance at a match. Bottom line: finding a match through this process in the time required would be nearly impossible.
Yet many hundreds of hands and hearts around the nation united behind this cause. You volunteers who have been tirelessly giving up your weekends and evenings to conduct drives have delivered a miracle from God to me – not only a match but a 10 out of 10 match, Pure perfection in the face of impossibility. You all have given me a new lease on life and for that I don’t have adequate words to thank you…
What I will say, though, is that our work is only half finished. We had set out a national goal of registering 50,000 donors, and we’re halfway there now. There are at least 3 other South Asian patients at this very moment who still do not have matches. They are surely as anxious as our friends and family have been, so we cannot rest till our work is complete.
Please keep pushing on all fronts and encouraging people to register. Please continue organizing drives – especially corporate drives and college campus drives. (I know there are a number of upcoming drives being scheduled around the country, and we will update the website soon to reflect these.)
As for me, I’m extremely grateful to have someone who appears to be a very dedicated donor. I don’t know anything about him but that he responded immediately when called upon. I am sure that he is committed and want to say THANK YOU to him for the new life that he is about to give me. I am simply overwhelmed by the day’s turn of events and thank you all for the prayers and wonderful kindness that have sustained me to this point in my journey.
With love and thanks to all of you,
Sameer
August 30th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Sameer– Congratulations!! This is Absolutely Fantastic news! Impossible doesn’t exist…
Here’s wishing you the very best of health, joy and happiness as you now focus on getting fully recovered! Live Strong!
God bless the wonderful committed donors! What an incredible anonymous gift they give!
Best wishes,
pallavi..
August 30th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Sameer: Congratulations! Its really great to hear this news. Someone commented on one of your posts last week, expanding “impossible” into the “i’m possible” and time just proved it. Wish you the very very best!
August 31st, 2007 at 4:35 am
Congratulations Sameer. All the very best for you.
August 31st, 2007 at 6:00 am
That is wonderful news! Let’s keep working hard so that everyone waiting for a match gets to hear this good news! Good luck with the transplant and thank you to the committed donor.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:35 am
Sameer & family - this is incredible, incredible news! Thanks for opening this very personal aspect of your life to the public to build momentum for such a critical need. I told a friend that I “knew” you would find a match - maybe it’s blind faith, maybe it’s that so many friends were going to see to it that you did.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:43 am
Amazing news! Really happy to know this Sameer. Congratulations and long life to you
August 31st, 2007 at 8:48 am
Congratulations Sameer and Reema. We are so happy for you both. Wish to all the luck.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:04 am
So happy for you! Congratulations and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:10 am
The news of your match is WONDERFUL! Cannot wait to see you both again.
August 31st, 2007 at 10:40 am
Congrats!! We are really happy for you and your family! All the best for a superfast recovery! This teaches us to always keep our faith in God and people!!
August 31st, 2007 at 10:50 am
Absolutely amazing! Three people were able to find matches, it’s truly a gift from god and made the impossible.. possible! I’ve passed the news to friends/family and they are so happy.
Can’t wait to see you guys soon!
August 31st, 2007 at 11:39 am
Congratulations, Sameer!!!!!!!!!! We are so happy that you were able to find a match. Miracles do happen!!!!!!! All the best to you and your loved ones.
Mala and Samay
August 31st, 2007 at 12:26 pm
This is FANTASTIC news! We are so happy and excited for you and wish you all the best going forward.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:02 pm
WOW! Congratulations Sameer! This news has made my entire year…
Shilpa
August 31st, 2007 at 1:11 pm
=) Live long and prosper!
August 31st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Nothing satisfying like this!!!
:) 
My belief in HIM has been even more strengthened now as has been in the team effort!
“Together, we can do anything!”
Congratulations and All the Best Sameer!
August 31st, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Special Massage to Donor:
Who ever you are wherever you are….you are a living god in short. In sanskrit there is a saying…
“Deivam Manusha Roopanam” (God takes the form of human beings)…I am seeing that now….
Wish you the very best in life.
Sameer…Good Luck with all procedures.
Reena….Can’t tell in words. You are one of the best human being and great wife.
Sowmya (Ardenwood, Fremont)
August 31st, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Sameer,
Congratulations…that is great news!!! Wishing you all the best.
August 31st, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Hi Sameer,
I have been checking your and Vinay’s web sites regularly for the past two weeks. I am very happy that both of you have found a match I really hope the procedure goes well. I will continue praying for you two!
Goodluck!
August 31st, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Dear Sameer-Reena,
I kept on smiling as I read that you’ve found a perfect match! Your spirituality, constant faith and belief in yourself has paid off! When I spoke to you for the article in Nirvana, your amazing and brave attitude was soooo infectious.
Congratulations and many congratulations to you!!
All I can think of saying is that you’ve been given this opportunity cos God saw how much you both value this precious lifetime we have!
Congrats once again
Amishi
August 31st, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Good luck and all the best! I am so happy you found a match!
August 31st, 2007 at 8:37 pm
sameer and reena
i am so happy
our blessing r always with u
get well soon
GOD BLESS YOU
congratulations
September 1st, 2007 at 3:49 am
Sameer and Reena,
CONGRATULATIONS.
This is fantastic news.This reinforces our faith in God and the efforts of your family,friends & above all the team work in mobilizing donors & creating awareness on this issue.
Our best wishes, blessings & prayers are always with you.
September 1st, 2007 at 8:52 pm
That is the MOST AMAZING news!!!! I am sooooo thrilled!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I hope to see you at reunion and I hope to be in touch much sooner. Thinking of you. Lots of love, Melissa
September 2nd, 2007 at 11:37 am
Hi Sameer,
Awesome News!! I am so happy for you.
Congratulations and Good Luck!
I can now use this saying more confidently-
“Nothing is Impossible.
Even Impossible says I am Possible.”
September 4th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Congratulations Sameer! Your optimism is your greatest gift and will continue to be your greatest strength in life. You are an inspiration to us and a model to live by.
With love,
Anjali, Shakeel, Inaya and Imani
September 4th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Sameer and Reena
Congratulations!! This is AMAZING news and a reward for all of your
optimism in the face of such odds. May you and the donor have a long
and blessed life.
September 4th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Congratulations! We are really excited about this. Wishing you all the best!
September 5th, 2007 at 6:33 am
I just came back from spending 10 GREAT days with my family and i’ve learned that there’s so much to be thankful for even more than before after seeing vinay and your story. I currently am at the Univ of chicago Business school and am planning on having a drive and now instead of for finding you a match we can say in HONOR of you and Vinay!!! this really gives me great happiness to see how someone with the lowest odd’s found a match. Truly it is perfection I have to say. I will be sending pictures once I figure out all the details and am so happy you found a match. I want to make sure I get the word out to people out there, especially the younger ones because they are our future and I think that’s the best way to get it all out there!!!!!…. I will write soon!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Thank God. Congratulations!
September 5th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Dear Sameer,
This is great news. I am Vinay’s aunt and I hope and pray that all will go well for you too.
God bless,
Lakshmi
September 5th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Congratulations Sameer! I’m so thrilled for you! Wonderful news. =)
Always,
Shalini
September 7th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Dear Sameer and Family,
I know its been awhile, but I wanted to let you know that through the tireless efforts of Robert and Co.:), my husband and I were able to help with the drive and we are very happy and thankful to hear that with a little determination and a lot of prayers, God has answered a very important one …..Congratulations Sameer!!
Wishing you all the best,
Aparna and Sarang
September 7th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I’m so happy to hear the great news that you and Vinay both found donors. I hope the transplants go well. Both of you will remain in my prayers. I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Hi Sameer,
I’m guessing you probably won’t remember me, but I was a freshman at MIHS in 1993 and played flute in the marching band when you were drum major. It was so nice to have such a wonderful and caring senior to look up to….so I thank you for that! I am so happy for you that you were able to find a match. I wish you all the best and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Best wishes,
Kim Parrish
September 11th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 12th, 2007 at 9:31 am
I am so so so happy to hear this.
May u have a great life ahead.
God be with yu and everyone always.
Komal
September 12th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Hey Sameer, i’m soo happy to hear the good news!!!! Wish u a speedy recovery. Take care, smiles;-
September 13th, 2007 at 6:06 am
Sameer,
Deanna and I are so thrilled for you. We wish you a smooth transplant and a quick and easy recovery.
We will keep you in our thoughts.
Geoff
September 14th, 2007 at 10:06 am
God is great! I pray that everything goes spledidly with you.
Best wishes,
Sandhya & Ashok
September 14th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
dear sameer and family
i had absolutely no doubt - am happy that the match news was timely. now focus on full recovery. lots of love
September 16th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Sameer !
I have been watching your and Vinay’s search and have been praying for that miracle to happen ! I cannot express how happy I am to see both of you succeed. Like Vinay’s brother Bharath commented it is a marathon and not a sprint, I know with your kind of attitude you will beat it. Live strong and happy.
Best wishes…
September 17th, 2007 at 1:16 am
CONGRATULATOON to you and the entire family!!!!!! have no words to express how
happy we all are! take good care of yourself and focus on your health,and just on your health!!!!!
with all my best wishes…………
September 17th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Hi Sameer,
All the best. I always believed that you will get a match soon and god answered my belief. I am sure that he will give you many more years of successful life.
Partha
September 19th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Congratulations Sameer, and best wishes for the transplant. This campaign is a hell of a milestone.
September 21st, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Good luck with the procedure. We are all rooting for you. Soon we will be tearing it up on the CTIA again my friend!
October 1st, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Congratulations, brother! I told you we’re gonna win this thing… look forward to seeing you when you visit the Bay!
- Jay