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.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Update on Kethan

It's Day +7 and Kethan's mom writes,"Fevers have started! Hope they are not infections. Kethan is still doing well, aside from the fever, which actually, fingers, toes and everything else, crossed, seems to be at bay. Apparently, fever and transfusions are daily occurrences in the BMT world!"
 
 -This photograph was taken on Day +6, before Kethan started running a fever.
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Monday, August 13, 2012

It's Day +3 and Kethan's mom reports that, for the most part, he is doing o.k.! He's feeling bored and would like to go home to Austin. Just waiting for his mom's stem cells to engraft... 
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Sunday, August 12, 2012

Update on Lanham, Maryland Bone Marrow Donor Drive

Team Kethan Maryland registered 36 donors of South Asian descent and approximately 15 more donors online. Thank you to Sharmini Campos, Jaya Sinnathamby, Ashvin Sinnathamby and Vikram Sinnathamby! Go Team Kethan!




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Saturday, August 11, 2012

Latest photos of Kethan, post-transplant

Kethan's Re-Birthday, 8/10/2012!
Day 1, having my morning cup of tea!

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Friday, August 10, 2012

Today is the day that Kethan receives his bone marrow transplant! The next 30 days are critical as we wait for engraftment of the transplanted stem cells. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you to everyone for your support and friendship.
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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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