[UPDATED: Funeral plans in Boston added below. Please continue sharing your thoughts.]
In March 2008, we wrote about the passing of Sameer Bhatia, one of two South Asian men whose struggle with leukemia had caught the imagination of South Asians and others across the U.S. We are sorry to report that the other young man, Vinay Chakravarthy, 29, passed away this morning.
"We are devastated at our loss today," said a spokesperson for the Chakravarthy family. "Vinay was an amazing soul who inspired all of us with his will to live. We take some comfort in knowing his journey may have saved lives through the campaign, and in all the lives he touched with his love and
spirit."
Vinay, through HelpVinay.org and Sameer, through HelpSameer.org, used their illness as a way of mobilizing the community and bringing attention to the lack of South Asians in the national bone-marrow registries.
Vinay was featured in a April 16, 2008, PBS/WGBH special, "The Truth About Cancer," taking on the question, "how far have we come in the war on cancer." You can learn more about the show here; you can watch it here; Vinay's segment begins here (chapter 5).
This is a logo of the PBS show: Vinay with his wife, Rashmi; they were married in 2005.
Vinay's last posting on HelpVinay was on May 12:
Hello everyone!
Once again sorry about the delay in updating all of you especially after the PBS documentary. Well as most my already know since my relapse in January 2008 after BMT, I received a dose of mylotarg which placed me in remission. Since then I have been battling graft versus host disease and multiple complications that have placed me in the ICU three times now. The first time for acute kidney and liver failure and the second, third time for excessive blood loss from the gut. I was successfully treated for all ICU visits, the last stay I required an interventional radiology procedure to stop the internal bleeding. After the procedure I was transferred back to the regular floor and my diet was slowly advanced to normal! I am doing well so far and will be transferring to a physical rehab center here in Boston to get my overall strength back. I hope to be home for good in 2-3 weeks! The rehab facility will provide 3 hours of physical therapy seven days a week, quite intense but should be better for me in the long run.
While I was in the ICU a lot has happened in our community, I want to send my love to Sameer and his family. Please if you need anything let us know, let the community know, we will always be there for you.
Here's what his parents had sent out last year (via SAJAer Seshu Badrinath, Vinay's cousin):
Vinay is the world to us - he is warm, funny, and loving. We have watched him grow from a little baby, to a young boy playing sports, to a fine young man determined to be a doctor, to a man marrying the girl of his dreams. Please help our son to have a chance to live - to be with his wife, with us, and with his friends.
If you aren't registered in the registry (I am, having signed up at a SAJA Convention drive some years back), please do so. Here's info on how to do so, from HelpVinay, SAMAR, the South Asian Marrow Association of Recruiters and MatchPia.org.
FUNERAL INFO - BOSTON, from HelpVinay.org:
Thursday:
Viewing is from 5:00 - 7:00 PM ET
Folks will be saying a few words around 5:30 PM
Location: Mann and Rodgers Funeral Home
Located in JP on the corner of South Huntington and Centre StreetFriday:
Rites/Service will be held in the morning from 9:30 AM onward for about an hour.
Location: Mann and Rodgers Funeral Home
Located in JP on the corner of South Huntington and Centre StreetA private cremation for family members only will be held at 10:30 in the Forest Hills area.
Some of you have enquired if you could do something in Vinay's memory. We request that you do not send flowers or other gifts. If you would like to make a donation in Vinay's memory, we would suggest that you donate to the National Donor Marrow Program.
Feel free to also donate in Vinay's name.
Vinay's commitment to finding other South Indian's a match has been made evident to the work that him and the group, helpvinay.org have done thus far for the South Asian Community.
Please post your thoughts, comments, etc, below. We will make sure his family sees them.
From the comments below, I wanted to highlight the comments of Hemant Wadhwani, who has been involved in the desi bone-marrow circles for year.
At the end, it is a spiritual journey to wake up our community's consciousness. Vinay and Sameer played a great role in our community raising that awareness, and their families were fearless and courageous in their support. Nothing is ever a lost, and your journeys will forever remain in the hearts and spirits of thousands. I remember sitting down with Vinay's brother Bharath 4th of July last weekend doing drives in Orlando and he said no matter what happens, we have to bring people together to inspire and to bring out the positivity in people and to help the next person in need. Both Vinay and Sameer's families/friends did just that, and I am grateful for the friendships made with them and family members along the way. More needs to be done in the fight against blood cancer, and the answer lies back in our roots in the South Asia/Indian subcontinent where little investment has been made in building a robust bone marrow registry. At a time when we are proud to see Indian companies making their mark in Hollywood and the auto industry with billions in investment, a $50 million investment into a bone marrow registry in India can go a long way in saving thousands/millions of South Asian cancer patients lives globally. We continue our work in your memory Vinay and Sameer and for the countless of others who did not make it. We salute you and you have taught thousands the meaning to have reverence for life and for all. In divine friendship and love, Hemant
Post your comments, please.
