i did it!!!!!!

i want to add more exclaimation marks, but that may be overdoing it just a BIT. ....so i'll do it here.

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

26.2 MILES OF RUNNING!!!!!!!!!!

MY goodness, it was SO much fun and an amazing event!!!!!! i ran for about five hours, through the most beautiful parts of SF. first off, the weather was perfect. i have NEVER seen SF *that* perfect before. i want to do the run again just for that! secondly, i had 24 people to cheer me on! just for me!!! how FREAKIN' cool is that?! third, my coaches were there in spots i needed them to be. they were amazingly sweet and encouraging. fourth, the signs my friends and family made had me laughing (and other runners laughing) through out the course (particularly the reference to "The Office" and the "Run for Rabies 5K" poster). fifth, i didn't WALK AT ALL!!!!! i actually ran the entire time. i don't think i can do a final, but i'll do it to shut up. sixthly, i thought of priyanka, kavita, archana, vinay, bevin, adam, cathy, venkatesh, ram, arun, rose, mithun, ken, carl, mark and the hundreds of names i read on other people's shirts because if they could do it, then so could i!!!!!!!!

my goodness, y'all, it has been the best five months a young gal like me could have asked for and yesterday was just a celebration of it all. i'm not tired, i'm not hurting, i'm nothing BUT estatic that it happened.

AND I RAISED MORE THAN $10k!! if i can do it, ANYONE (literally anyone) can. lemme tell you how many older women/men, disabled men/women, bigger women/men i saw cross the finish line before me. i think i'll be gearing up for another race soon. :)

i'll definitely write more when i'm not so AHHHHHHH!!!! I DIDITIDIDITDIDIT mood! :)

san francisco

i'm looking at a picture i have on my desk. it's a picture i took with my disposable camera while on top of the telegraph hills. the fog had just rolled through and the outskirts of the city looks wrapped around in white cotton. it's a beautiful picture in my mind.

in three days, i'll be running through that city. i'll be with my teammates and other folks from around the country trying to do what a small percentage of us actually accomplish. yesterday, my SIL said, "But a marathon is a huge accomplishment and life goal." it's true. it is a huge accomplishment. however, even if i don't cross the finish line because of an injury or health issues, in my mind, getting to the starting line is all that matters. maybe that is my life motto.

i've never been a great student. i never excelled in any subject or got straight As (or even straight Bs in certain years). but, i did attain my goals of going to a great university, a great public interest law school, and obtaining jobs that don't compromise my passions. i succeed in the minor ways, over looking some of the major things society applauds. i'm more of a battle person than a score card person.

for once in my life, i'm embracing myself and my motto. getting there is not half the battle, it's probably 80% of the battle. once we are there, it just takes a little bit more motivation to get through to the end.

after all that garble, my point is this- i already feel i have accomplished the marathon. i've raised more money than i thought i could, i've met amazing people who have motivated me to keep running and doing what i do, i've seen parts of NYC/NJ that i never would have ventured, and i've met myself at mile 18, my inner child who wants nothing more but to be done. all of that in less than five months.

three days from now, i'm be on the last leg of this wonderful mission.

almost there

i'm so close to achieving a fundraising dream of $10,000 when i cross the finish line on Sunday. it's freaking amazing that i can even write those words. i want to underscore that my biggest block in signing up for this race was thinking about fundraising. i'm amazed at all the donors (look to the right!)....

although you don't see the donation numbers right beside each donor, i want you to know that no one donated more than $400. only three individuals gave more than $300. the majority of my donors donated on average $25-50.

i am deeply inspired by those that are giving (and some gave twice!) to this run, this cause, and to my many friends who i started running for and will be running for on sunday.

SIX DAYS!

I have six days left until the big day! I can't believe that October 21, 2007 is right around the corner. I am super excited to be that much closer to the finish line, the Tiffany's necklace, and a few mandatory spa visits. :)

I'm thinking about donating my Tiffany's necklace. I want to see what it looks like before doing so, in case I truly fall in love with it. I believe it is a runner pendant on a silver chain. Let's see, let's see!

I'm super excited to see my family, my friends, and my teammates running, cheering, and being lively on Sunday.

To those who read this blog, thank you for all the support and love you have given to me since May. Of course I will continue to write in the next days and after the race to give a wrap-up.

If you have been living under a rock, you may not know about Vinay. Over the past summer, thousands of South Asians gave their spit and registered in the South Asian Marrow Association of Recruiters database. You can read more about Vinay over here. Not only did his positivity and love inspire me, but so did his family and friends' love. I contacted Priya, Vinay's wife, back in June to do an interview. Before I knew it, it was September and I had yet to fulfill my promise. After a few emails back and forth, Bharath, Vinay's older brother, helped me out by gladly accepting the invitation for the interview.


Chai: Describe your relationship with Vinay.
Bharath: Vinay is my younger brother… but more than that he’s a part of my inner being.

C: What's a funny story of you and Vinay that highlights your personalities?
B: Once when Vinay and I were working with our computer he wanted to delete a certain file to free up hard drive space. But accidentally he deleted the WHOLE hard drive. The computer asked 3 times, “are you sure you want to delete the drive?” and Vinay answered “Yes." “Are you really sure you want to delete the drive?” Again he answered, “Yes." And after the final warning he zapped the whole hard drive. Of course he didn’t tell anyone until I stumbled upon an empty drive and a nonfunctional computer a few days later. Hilarious!

C: When you heard your brother's diagnosis, what were the first thoughts that went through your head?
B: I was in shock. I couldn’t believe that a person that looked so strong, healthy and has led a disciplined life could have such a devastating diagnosis. I wished I could be the one in his place...

C: After Vinay was diagnosed, what type of support did you & your family receive from the hospital? What mental health support did your family receive?

B: Our family was extremely fortunate in that it is large and very very tight. So most of our social and moral support came from within... That being said, the hospital staff was extremely attentive and the nurses are really what run the show. Vinay was blessed to have wonderful nurses during his hospitalizations and they treated him as if he were their own family member. One nurse, Judy, had the most soothing demeanor, even during the most stressful of periods. I couldn't help but wish that all nurses were just like her.

C: The South Asian marrow drives have been a great success. How did you galvanize the South Asian American community to get involved in Vinay's plight?

B: Without the help of all of our family, friends and extended community, we would not have accomplished as much as we did. We had very strong leadership and many talented individuals who had immediate skills to help create an atmosphere of success.

C: What life lessons have you learned from Vinay and this ordeal that can educate the readers?
B: Some of the life lessons are very cliché. Life is precious, and live every moment. They are very very true. I think we seem to be reminded by it every once in a while. I read once that you shouldn’t sweat the small stuff… and life is all about the small stuff.

C: Do you think what your brother went through has changed your view on dealing with patients in your own medical practice?
B: I seem to feel a bit more connected in assisting younger patients who are diagnosed w/ life threatening illnesses and I think a small part of me does a bit extra for those diagnosed with cancer.

C: Now that you have community involvement underneath your belt, what are your next steps in continuing to make sure we get the word about blood cancers in the South Asian community?
B: Well sustainability is one of the ultimate goals of TEAM VINAY. We’re already very happy about creating a desi website on NMDP.org and in implementing a cultural competent call back protocol for those volunteers who are possible matches. There is also a concerted movement to assist in the creation of an Indian national marrow program.

C: Have you ever ran a marathon? If so, what advice do you have for me? If not, can I convince you to train for one of the Leukeumia and Lymphoma Society's runs?
B: I ran the Boston marathon a while back, as a pirate runner. When you feel like stopping and can’t go any further, think off all the cancer patients and what they’ve been through and how you wouldn’t want them to quit.

C: Um, what is a pirate runner? Like you got dressed up?
B: A pirate runner is a non-registered runner. I didn't have an official number and didn't have to qualify/raise money.

C: I'm sure your brother will credit you with his positive attitude. How did you remain positive and reassuring through these hard times?
B: I reserved my ” personal moments” with my wife Sonia. Confidence and calm attitude can be very contagious so I do my best to be encouraging through the ups and downs. Having a transplant is a marathon. It’s not a 50-yard dash, so you have to pace yourself and keep moving forward at a steady pace.

C: Finally, for some runners who run with i-Pods, what is your favorite song/band/rap right now and why?
B: My favorite running album is “Ten” from Pearl Jam. Just a real shot in the arm w/ all those guitar sets.

Running on Positive

I've been trying to get personal interviews with my honored teammates for this blog. Some of my teammates I know personally, others are friends/family of my friends and family. Sibil, one of my earliest donors to this run, asked me to run for her friend Bevin. In early September, I sent him a list of questions for the interview. Since most of us have schedule driven lives, I thought it would be easier for people to answer questions via email, then in-person or on the phone. I never received a response. Lask week, in my facebook inbox, I received this email from Sibil:

Hey Chai!

how are you? i hope you're doing well. i was wondering if you ever heard from bevin? i just saw an email today from my church youth fellowship asking us to keep bevin in prayer b/c he's back in the hospital. It seems his cancer came back and I am hearing he might need a bone marrow transplant. Hopefully his sisters test as a positive match. Details are sketchy right now, I want to speak to some closer, reliable sources that know exactly what is going on. But please keep him in your prayers and if he's MIA with answering back, you'll know why.

It's definitely disheartening to hear this news. Especially since lately I have seen him looking so heathly and happy and just living his life to the fullest.

Anyway, just wanted to drop you a line and let you know.

Sibil

My heart slowed down. Here I was thinking that he was too busy/didn't care/forgot about the questionnaire. In reality, he was someplace else, dealing with the cancer demon. Although it is very unfortunate that the cancer came back, Bevin has inspired me to run farther, faster, and better. And he has inspired me to continue raising money. There still is NO cure.

If you are in New York City this week, here are two events happening for him:

Swab 4 Bevin

Please come out and support on Thursday, Oct.11th at BAR 13 35 E 13th Street (6:30-9:30 p.m.)

OR

Saturday, Oct.13th
KATWALK
2 West 35th Street (Btwn 5th & 6th Ave)
New York. NY 10001
(6-9 p.m.)

Our friend Bevin Varughese was diagnosed with ALL(Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) in January 2004. He has been undergoing treatment since January 2004 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Bevin won the fight and was in remission for about nine months.

In Mid-September 2007 Bevin's cancer had returned. He urgently needs a bone marrow transplant. His family and friends, have begun a nationwide effort to find Bevin a match. We are trying to reach as many South Asians as possible and get them registered at one of our drives.

South Asians are sadly underrepresented in the National Bone Marrow Registry. Our goal is to change that. A Caucasian seeking a match in the registry averages 15 hits; where a South Asian matches 1 or 0. You can change that statistic.

How You Can Help:

YOU - through a simple cheek swab - could be that miracle match for Bevin, or for someone else needing a bone marrow match.

• Please come out and register at one of our upcoming drives. All it takes is a few minutes of your time

Please add Live Strong Bevin as your Facebook friend to stay updated on latest news and events!

www.swab4bevin.com (coming soon!)

home stretch...

Sorry for not updating this blog in the past two weeks. I have been really busy a) at work, b) in the park running, and/or c) entertaining the slew of friends/family that are coming through new york right now.

I have a lot to highlight and moments to share:

• I ran in my first 1/2 marathon race! It took place in Queens (one of the five boroughs of NYC) and it was a great run. Although many of my teammates complained about the turns and hills, I didn't care much because I was on a high that I was running. The week before this race, I did not run due to an illness (the common cold/flu). My time? 2:08. The distance? 13.1 miles. Here are some pics:

sprinting towards the finish line

YEAH!

After running 13.1m, I'm still smiling...

• I ran my second 20 miler. Again, it was hell. But unlike the first time, I was running in a National Park in New Jersey. Running on gravel/dirt vs. asphalt is QUITE different, especially for my weak hips. I was on the verge of tears near mile 18. I stopped and walked and kept saying how this is hell. Towards the end, two of my teammates who were behind me said, "Keep moving those feet, you'll get there." Grudingly I did move my feet and I did get there, albeit nearly four hours later.
• I talked to the main coach, Ramon, on Saturday and shared with him my thoughts. I won't lie to you all, I am nervous about this marathon. If I felt pain around mile 16 or 18, I'm scared what type of pain I will feel when I'm done. I'm fairly certain I will have tears, mixed emotions and pain. He looked me in the eyes and said in his thick Spanish accent, "You will finish. It is normal to have doubt." That made me feel a WHOLE lot better.

Now I am here. The last three weeks of practice. Wow, I'm surprised at how nervous I am right now with just typing those words. Phew. Oh, and I need to raise $1500 to reach my dream goal of $10K.