I found out a little bit ago that Mercer Island native Sameer Bhatia has passed away from complications due to Leukemia. I got to know Sameer when I was organizing a bone marrow drive for him and Vinay recently. I didn't know him or his family, I'd just found out about Vinay and him online and decided to do whatever little I could do to help two people and raise awareness about the lack of enough Asian bone marrow donors in the world today. I blogged about it on Monsoon Masala, talked to people, asked friends and family to chip in, and in doing all that, I thought I would "help" a good cause, but I didn't know that I would be the one who'd be helped manifold through this experience.

I saw how giving and generous people can be, I saw first hand the incredible support that Lori Matsukawa of King 5 gave us, I saw how receptive the rest of the media was in taking our message far and wide often free of cost, but most of all, I was blown away by Sameer's courage and good humor even in his dire situation. When Lori told me she was sending a TV crew to Sameer's home to interview him, I called him up and jokingly told him that he should probably go to the spa and get a facial for his TV appearance. Unfazed, he gave it right back to me and said he was already too handsome for TV and couldn't wait to tell the world about bone marrow donation! That was the moment I decided to go see his man in person. But I didn't do it then, thinking I'd probably end up disturbing him, and thought of meeting him when he'd get better. It never occurred to me that maybe he won't get better...

Sameer passed away this Spring, while I was away to California for a month and I only recently found out I'd missed my chance of meeting him. I spoke to his dad recently and I was so relieved to hear a voice that sounded strong, peaceful and resilient. I am praying for courage and peace of a fight fought well for Sameer and his family.