what if she were your sister?

dear megan,

it's amazing how a complete stranger can influence your choices and impact your life; i've experienced/inspired this myself and now i find myself on the opposite end of things, writing to someone i've never had the privilege of meeting, hoping she doesn't think me strange for doing so.

a few months ago, when i heard about pia awal's search for a stem cell match to treat her leukemia, i made sure that i attended a special event in DC so that i could get tested and become part of the national marrow donor program database.

when i heard about you, i fervently wished that i could do more than light candles for you at church.  i'm obviously not your match, though i'm also malayalee.  i pray for you every night, that you find your one in 10,000. 

if there's anything i can do to help your cause, please let me know.  i've already harangued most people i know to get tested, but i don't know any Knanayas, and i heard that your greatest chance of a match would be with one of them.  perhaps i can write about you for one of my websites?  i checked your site, is there an upcoming drive that i could help you publicize?

let me know.  i'd love to do my part.

best wishes,

anna  :)

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more info:  this excellent nirali article features pia AND megan.

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addendum:  pia and baby varun (another brown who's made the email-plea rounds like pia and megan) have both found matches within the last week!  :)

please get your blood tested.  if whimpering, immature, cowardly me--who has refused the FLU SHOT for the last five years b/c of terror WRT needles-- can do it, you have no excuse.  it takes a few minutess to give the mere specks of blood; it takes a few months to process your sample.  i'm forever haunted by the tragic and unnecessary loss of another south asian girl who died on april 29, 2001...just days before her match was found.   i know that most of my readers are desi. 

one of you could save megan's life.  what's stopping you?

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Comments

[nik]

Thank you for opening my eyes annachy! I will get my blood tested.. asap!

[maus]

i'm impressed. you avoid needles as if they were spiders. maybe i'll get tested too...except i didn't see any upcoming drives. where did you go to do this again? i hope they find someone to help her...