About Kethan

Ten-year-old Kethan was first diagnosed with leukemia (ALL) in 2006 at the age of four. He beat it twice but now it’s back for a third time. His doctors say his best hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant. The problem is finding a donor match. Kethan is of South Asian descent and Asian donors only make up seven percent of the bone marrow donor database.

Because the markers used in matching are inherited, patients are more likely to match someone from their own race or ethnicity. Adding more donors from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to the database increases the likelihood that all patients will find the match they need.

Since no match has been found, Kethan’s doctors are having to move forward with an alternative treatment because of no match. Unfortunately, there are thousands of stories similar to Kethan’s. Please register as a bone marrow donor and help improve the statistics for finding a bone marrow match.

So, what happens if you are a match? Once you are registered, you are in the database until your 61st birthday and could be matched at any time. Please go to www.getswabbed.org to understand more about this process and what it entails.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Bone Marrow Donor Drive in Lanham, MD on 8/11/12


 Cure for Kethan Bone Marrow Donor Drive

If you are in the Lanham, Maryland area this weekend, please stop by the Sri SivaVishnu Temple (6905 Cipriano Road) between noon and 4 p.m. to "get swabbed" and save a life! The registry needs YOU!
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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Update on Kethan

Thankfully, Kethan responded remarkably well to the monoclonal antibody therapy he received in Houston, and he achieved remission in a short period of time.  Because his leukemia is so aggressive, the doctors have said he needs a bone marrow transplant right away.

Unfortunately, there is still  not a matching donor in the bone marrow registry and time has run out to find one, so the doctors are moving forward with an alternative treatment.  Kethan's mother will be the stem cell donor ("haploidentical related donor").  While she is not a perfect match, the doctors have found ways to improve patient outcomes with "haplo" donors.  Kethan's doctors are very pleased with his response to the monoclonal antibodies and seem optimistic about the transplant.

Kethan is currently receiving the pre-transplant preparatory regimen (chemotherapy and total body irradiation).  God willing, the transplant will take place this Friday, August 10th, his Re-birthday!  Following the transplant, he will be inpatient for 30 days in Houston.

Thank you very much for all of your support. Please keep Kethan and his family in  your prayers!
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Monday, July 30, 2012

Progress Report [July 30]


Yesterday was the big drive in Austin, Texas! Here are the results of yesterday's drive:
  • Number of donors registered yesterday: 359
  • Donations accepted yesterday: $6,756
  • Online donations to date: $345
  • 30 online requests from Austin for kits over the weekend
Thank you to all who came and who have been spreading the word!
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Friday, July 27, 2012

Bone Marrow Donor Drive This Weekend in Austin, Texas!

Sunday, July 29th, 2012
12:00 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Ronald McDonald House
1315 Barbara Jordan Blvd. (next to Dell Children's Medical Center)
Austin, Texas 78723
Free Parking

You can change the odds for patients like Kethan and so many others in need of a bone marrow transplant. All it takes is a simple cheek swab, and you can become a hero in waiting. Please join us on Sunday and bring along some friends! All ethnicities are needed and welcome! We need to BROADEN and DIVERSIFY the registry! TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS!!
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Friday, July 20, 2012

Attention Everyone in Arlington and Sugar Land, Texas

Date: Saturday, July 21st, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Place: Grace Preparatory Academy
               3300 West Interstate 20
               Arlington, TX 76017


Date: Sunday, July 22, 2012
Time: 11am to 4pm
Place: Udipi Cafe
              3551 Highway 6 S  
              Sugar Land, TX 77478
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Progress Report [July 20]

Two weeks ago, there was a bone marrow drive for Cure for Kethan in Tampa, Florida. Thanks to Dr. Vijay Mehta and the donors, 95 people have been added to the bone marrow registry! With your commitment, we are saving lives.
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Thursday, July 19, 2012


Please take a few minutes to watch this eye-opening MSNBC story...

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/48142203#48142203
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