Fuck Yeah Amit Gupta

superamit: Many of you have asked, so here’s what’s going on...

tedr — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:16:00 -0500

Many of you have asked, so here’s what’s going on with me.

WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE

8/1979: Born. Grew up in CT, built a killer eraser collection, fell in love with computers.

Left college to start a company. Fell hard. Fled to India for 3 months.

Started 2nd company. Learned to be an adult. Fell in love with NYC.

Moved to SF, discovered burritos & some of my fave people on Earth.

9/2011: Got diagnosed with Leukemia!

Cried. Went through 3 cycles of chemo. Hurt. Thought hard about what I want out of life. Grew up a second time.

TODAY

… After over 100 drives organized by friends, family, and strangers, celebrity call-outs, a bazillion reblogs (7000+!), tweets, and Facebook posts, press, fundraising and international drives organized by tireless friends, and a couple painful false starts, I’ve got a 10/10 matched donor!

You all literally helped save my life. (And the lives of many others.)

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Tomorrow, I’ll be admitted to Dana Farber in Boston for 4-5 weeks.

First I’ll get a second Hickman line to allow direct access to my heart (for meds and for nutrients if I’m not able to eat). Over the next week, the docs blast my body with a stiff chemo cocktail to try and eradicate all traces of cancer cells. In the process, the immune system I was born with, and my body’s ability to make blood, are destroyed.

Next Friday, I get my donor’s stem cells by IV. I start on immunosuppressants to prevent my body from rejecting them (I’ll be on them for 12-18 months). For these weeks I’ve no immune system, so I’m severely vulnerable to viruses and bacteria. My hospital room and hallway become my world.

Meanwhile, the stem cells make their way to my bone marrow and, with some luck, start producing platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. At this point, my blood type changes to the blood type of my donor. And my blood will now have my donor’s DNA, not my own.

This is science fiction stuff. I can hardly believe it’s even possible, and there’s lots of chances for things to go wrong. It’s frightening.

AFTER THE TRANSPLANT

Recovery to a new state of “normal” takes about a year, but there’s a few storm clouds hovering:

My immune system is new, like a baby’s. I’m prone to getting sick.

Just as with any organ transplant, there’s a chance of rejection. Except in this case, it’s my blood that’s the foreign body, and it touches every organ. They call it graft-vs-host-disease and it can cause health issues and organ complications for the rest of my life.

Successful transplant or not, Leukemia can relapse. Stubborn mofo.

Overall, 75% of AML transplant patients survive year one, 50% make it through year five. My odds are a little better since I’m young.

THE GREAT NEWS

I’ve got a long road ahead. But I’ve got a donor & amazing family & friends. A few months ago I didn’t have many options. Today I have a plan.

I am alive. I start tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Thank you.

Amit Gupta’s Quest: Life, Death and Social Media | Epicenter | Wired.com

tedr — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:57:11 -0500

Amit Gupta’s Quest: Life, Death and Social Media | Epicenter | Wired.com

Entrepreneur Amit Gupta Still Needs Your Help in Fight Against Leukemia | Techland | TIME.com

tedr — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:56:24 -0500

Entrepreneur Amit Gupta Still Needs Your Help in Fight Against Leukemia | Techland | TIME.com

jayparkinsonmd: Regarding Amit Gupta, my friend who was...

tedr — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:43:44 -0400

jayparkinsonmd:

Regarding Amit Gupta, my friend who was recently diagnosed with leukemia, I heard some pretty startling news last night. A friend was trying to convince her friend to get swabbed and join the bone marrow donor registry. Her friend was adamantly opposed because she was afraid she could die, or be harmed by the procedure. Well, folks, this is just plain wrong. Donating bone marrow is very similar to donating blood. Just watch this video to see what it’s like:

Girl Prepares To Undergo Marrow Donation

The biggest commitment you’ll make is time. But just think about it, a few minutes of your life to extend someone’s life by decades? That’s priceless.

photo of Amit by Dan Busta

ご主人と２足歩行を練習する猫 (by maruissmik)

annielin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:21:14 -0400

ご主人と２足歩行を練習する猫 (by maruissmik)

Hey Amit, Just registered and am swabbing for you. Match or no match, I send you my deepest wish and intention for your seamless and complete return to perfect health. Big love to a lovely man, Marta

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:03:57 -0400

Amit Gupta Needs You ... On Facebook

tedr — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:09:29 -0400

Amit Gupta Needs You ... On Facebook

I dont know you, but was linked here by swiss-miss(.)com. Stay strong!! :D

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:53:19 -0400

fuck yeah public radio!

abangupjob — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:45:48 -0400

fuck yeah public radio!:

story about Amit + Seth Godin’s donation on the Takeaway (WNYC show) this morning.

stay strong and be brave!! thoughts and prayers sent your way!

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:29:59 -0400

Twitter / Search - #ISwabbedForAmit

tedr — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:00:48 -0400

Twitter / Search - #ISwabbedForAmit:

This has blown up on Twitter!

"http://db.tt/xd6dhG29"

tedr — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:09:52 -0400

“http://db.tt/xd6dhG29”

- Dropbox - Amit Flyer tear off.pdf - Simplify your life

A set of really nicely mad tear-off print-outs to solicit bone marrow donors.

Hello Amit, I read about your leukemia, I want to wish you lots of strength and if I can help you with something let me know.

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:06:50 -0400

Yes, you can get the swab kit.

Getting Swabbing Kit Took 5 Minutes

tedr — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:13:44 -0400

In 5 minutes I was able to complete Marrow.org’s registry process and have a kit sent to me for free. When I get it, I’ll swab, send back and then I will have #swabbedforAmit.

Get your kit now

Amit...you have always been so supportive of my work and my dreams. I can only say how important you have been to me and I wish I could do something to help. I have been on the bone marrow donor list for years, I will help spread the word.

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:11:44 -0400

"How about if we gamify it? Here’s the deal: if you are a match for Amit and the marrow..."

tedr — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:04:47 -0400

“How about if we gamify it? Here’s the deal: if you are a match for Amit and the marrow donation happens, I’ll profile you or the project of your choice on the blog and send you a check for $10,000 for you or the charity of your choice. Winner take all, no purchase necessary… (Even if you don’t win, if you swab we all win).”

- Seth’s Blog: Eliminating the impulse to stall

Go to Be The Match, and get a kit sent to you

http://www.marrow.org/Join/Join_Now/Join_Now.aspx

Internet Loves Amit: Facebook Group to get words out for how people has get tested as donors.

tedr — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:06:19 -0400

Internet Loves Amit: Facebook Group to get words out for how people has get tested as donors.:

Please note: we heard that anyone can be a match, not just South Asians, so we should all get tested.

Save a wonderful life. Find completeness in your own!

superamit: Haircut necessary? You know it’ll always grow...

tedr — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:52:56 -0400

superamit:

Haircut necessary?

You know it’ll always grow back, Amit!!!!

Love you!

Amit, you brilliant light. I've stitched up a special Subversive Cross Stitch especially for you, so look for it soon. You are in my thoughts and prayers - I'm sending all the healing vibes I have. The whole world is alive with love for you, I hope you feel the warmth! Julie Jackson

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:56:58 -0400

Love from Brooklyn xoxoox

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:56:50 -0400