Help a Bay Area Boy Keep Fighting—Kabir Needs Treatment

Help Kabir Fight: 3x Leukemia Survivor Facing New Challenges

As Bhavika Taunk, both Kabir's mother and his primary caregiver, my relationship with him goes far beyond the anything I imagined for our mother-son journey. It's been shaped by sleepless nights in hospital rooms, a rollercoaster of hope and despair, and witnessing first-hand the extraordinary resilience and of our warrior.

This fundraiser is more than just a campaign; it's a beacon of hope in our three relentless battles against leukemia and their aftermath—a journey that has stretched our family's strength and highlighted the incredible power of love and resilience. This cause is deeply significant to me. It's about giving Kabir every opportunity to experience a life filled with joy and promise, despite the daunting challenges leukemia has caused. It's a deeply personal fight to ensure a future where Kabir can thrive, fueled by his unbreakable spirit.

Kabir was just 4 years old when he was diagnosed with a high-risk form of leukemia, known as Philadelphia Chromosome-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (PH+ ALL), on April 20, 2017. His initial treatment at Lucile Packard Stanford Children's Hospital involved intensive, high-risk chemotherapy for two years. Following a relapse in July 2019 primarily in his central nervous system, which occurred just weeks after his initial treatment ended, the harsh reality of Kabir's condition became starkly evident, necessitating further, more aggressive treatmehts.

Our family's journey took a pivotal turn as we sought a CAR-T clinical trial at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), motivated by the limitations of insurance coverage in California. Despite our high hopes, Kabir experienced another relapse six months later, and yet again in July 2020 amidst the pandemic, each setback requiring more invasive treatments and introducing new, lifelong challenges.

In the summer of 2020, amidst considerations for palliative care, our hopes were renewed through a bone marrow transplant from Kabir's younger brother, Ayaan, a testament to their profound sibling bond. Kabir also underwent an orchiectomy requiring future hormone replacement therapy for his entire adult life. The rigors of the bone marrow transplant and its aftermath were daunting, leading to severe side effects and a year-long battle with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), which significantly impacted Kabir's kidneys and overall health.

Now 11 years old and three years post-transplant, Kabir's zest for life is still going strong. His passions for cooking, anime, swimming, and video games, alongside the joy he finds in spending time with Ayaan and our family dogs, Hachi and Mochi, show his enduring spirit. Our return to the East Bay marks a full-circle moment for our family, choosing to re-engage with our community while navigating the complexities of Kabir's recovery.

Recent challenges have included Kabir grappling with a rare condition affecting his spine's cauda equina region, a consequence of the intensive chemotherapy, which has introduced new neurological hurdles. His educational journey has been significantly disrupted, necessitating a highly individualized approach to learning and daily living, underscored by: chronic migraines, daily debilitating pain, severe nausea managed with chemotherapy-grade medications, neuro-cognitive deficits making learning very difficult, hypertension and neuropathic pain. Additionally, he has experienced intermittent incontinence and limb weakness, necessitating the use of a wheelchair for mobility.

Supporting Kabir's Journey

In facing these multifaceted challenges, we are exploring every possible avenue for Kabir's care, including engaging with specialists from the rare disease networks and the NIH. The support gained through Kabir's GoFundMe page is pivotal, directly contributing to specialized care, ongoing treatments, and potentially life-altering research for other children in the future facing similar fates.

Detailed Breakdown of Fund Utilization:

Your generosity provides more than just financial assistance; it offers hope, a testament to the collective strength and kindness of our community. Join us in supporting Kabir's fight against his three battles of Leukemia. Together, we can make a difference in his journey towards healing and a brighter future.

Hero Quote: "You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!" - Kabir Taunk

Follow Kabir's journey and our family's updates through Mom's Instagram.

Your support means the world to us and to Kabir, as we navigate this challenging journey. Thank you for standing with us.

-Bhavika & Mandeep Taunk

YouTube Video:

Roche - Patient Perspectives Blood transfusions

Kabir and Bhavika are featured here in an internal Roche video to highlight the crucial need for a clean and available blood supply. We share our experience with the first two years of his Leukemia treatment, noting that over two years of chemotherapy, he required 25-30 blood transfusions. These transfusions were vital for his survival and treatment efficacy. Kabir's story raises awareness about the importance of blood donations for cancer treatment.