Shashank's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Come forward, Help Shashank win Fight against Blood Cancer!
There are two kinds of people on this Earth; one who sees a hopeless end while the other sees Endless Hope. I happen to have come across someone who belongs to the other side where incessantly life is pushing him towards the hopeless end.
Shashank Keerthi, a 27 year old young man of Secunderabad from India, a doting son and a loving brother is full of life and charm. His affinity towards work and studies won him several recognized projects.
Things were only looking up for SK, as he is a loving known at his place.
Life, like a sudden spark in the arid forest started to ignite when he was diagnosed with blood cancer in the mid of March, 2017.
A few months down the road, on his third stage of cancer, he is still fighting strong to cure this dreaded disease, struggling to arrange exorbitant funds to help cure cancer. He has used up all his savings, including funds received through a crowd fundraising campaign and from all our friends (who generously donated), for an allogeneic stem cell transplant therapy. Unfortunately, the transplant was a temporary measure to combat his cancer and he has now developed further complications due to his debilitating condition. At the moment, with the generous support of PKC FOUNDATION he is undergoing blood transfusions every month. Doctors have advised that one of the potential strategies to fight his cancer and present him with a better quality of life is a bone morrow transplant. This therapy as of now seems like the last option available for him, from an exhaustive treatment list which was previously considered, but it comes with a very heavy financial burden.
The excruciating price of Rs. 50, 75, 000 has been billed as an overall expenditure which also includes Bone Marrow Transplant.
In the midst of his life’s darkest hour, SK still believes that life is worth fighting for instead of living in the dark shadow of the abrupt eclipse, he has decided to come out to seek help. His defiant zeal to fight is what keeping his people around him strong.
THE IMPACT:
The difference you can make in SK’s life and his family is incredible, I hardly know where to begin describing the impact it would make.
Your contribution helps SK to start a new life
Helps his mother and can make a difference in his life and shows still humanity exists
You can not only save him and his family but also his dreams and goals
The list goes on...
It is uncertain of the amount of money that will be collected by the time of the bone marrow transplant; I really hope that the contribution of each and everyone who is reading this article will make a huge difference for Shashank’s treatment.
According to the family, if they are able to raise more than the required amount, the extra funds will be utilized for another needy patient who is struggling for funds.
This is not it. All those who cannot financially help can raise their voices and share the story of Shashank Keerthi and save him. Get the word out and share with everyone you know.
Usually when I sit in solitude and wonder what different I can do that will help the mankind, I think the time is now. You can help those struggling with life and issue them a supportive place where they can again find connection, comfort, and inspiration and above all, hope for a brighter tomorrow.
If you need to talk to Shashank himself, you may contact on: +91 9553403548 or email him at [email redacted].
Here are the Bank Details if one wishes to deposit funds directly in the account.
Shashank Keerthi
HDFC Bank – Account No: 50100090227777
IFSC Code – HDFC0000377
Please see the following for the details of his cancer type and overall condition;
Details of his type of cancer,
Brief Summary:
Myelodysplastic Syndrome-RAEB-2
Cytogenetics: Normal
FLT3/NPM1/CEBPA: Not Detected
History:
He is a 27 years old patient, non-diabetic male presented with c/o weakness, dizziness, fatigue and breathlessness on exertion since 8 months.
Prior to that he was suffering from pleural effusion and he got treated in Yashoda Hospitals in India where doctors removed the fluid from the right lung.
Patient evaluated for the same and found to have low HB for which he received 5 units of packed cells.
Last blood transfusion was given in first week of last month.
Family History:
Mother alive. 1 sister - Married.
On Examination :
PS2, pallor+, fully oriented, afebrile, vitals: stable, no lymphadenopathy, no gum hypertrophy.
CNS: Conscious, Oriented.
Chest : Clear after removal of the fluid.
CVS: NAD
P/A: soft, no organomegaly.
Co- Morbidity : HT: No, DM: No, Others: No
He was Evaluated with HB: 7, plt : 24000 with progressive fall.
Peripheral Smear: Leucoerythroblastic picture with 8% blast.
Special Investigations:
Bone Marrow aspiration: MDS-RAEB2 (16% Blast)
Bone Marrow Biopsy: Showing ~97% marrow cellularity. There is marked myeloid prominence. Megakaryocytes are showing displastic changes. Interstially scattered immature cells are seen. No large sheet or cluster of blast seen.
Cytogenetics : 48 X,Y
Flow Cytometry Report: Sample show 10% abnormal events which are positive for myeloid markers along with aberrant cd19 & cd7.
Positive for CD34, HLA-DR, Myeloperoxidase, CD117, CD13, CD11c, CD19, CD38 and Negative for CD64, CD10, CD79A, CD22, CD20, CD3, CD5, CD7.
FLT3 Mutations Assay : NOT DETECTED.
NPM1/CEBPA Mutations : No Mutations were detected.
C.Difficle Toxin a&'b' symptoms : Negative
Vitamin D : 21.9
Bone Marrow aspiration: Marked diluted aspirate smear showing predominantly mature lymphocytes and 6% blasts. Peripheral smear shows pancytopenia.
Bone Marrow Biopsy: Hypocellular marrow (Post chemotherapy) with persistent disease. Addendum report: IHC for CD34 is Negative.
IHC for CD117 shows increased immature cells and is positive in ~20~27% of all Haemoietic cells.
Bone Marrow aspiration: Blast Constitute 8% (32/500) of all nucleated cells . Occasional Blasts show auer rods. Bone marrow is not in morphological remission.
Patient was admitted for induction chemotherapy(3+7) with InjDaunorubicin and InjCytarabine.
Patient was planned to give Decitabine based chemotherapy and regular blood transfusions till he receives the desired funds for bone marrow transplant.
We are grateful for your help!
There are two kinds of people on this Earth; one who sees a hopeless end while the other sees Endless Hope. I happen to have come across someone who belongs to the other side where incessantly life is pushing him towards the hopeless end.
Shashank Keerthi, a 27 year old young man of Secunderabad from India, a doting son and a loving brother is full of life and charm. His affinity towards work and studies won him several recognized projects.
Things were only looking up for SK, as he is a loving known at his place.
Life, like a sudden spark in the arid forest started to ignite when he was diagnosed with blood cancer in the mid of March, 2017.
A few months down the road, on his third stage of cancer, he is still fighting strong to cure this dreaded disease, struggling to arrange exorbitant funds to help cure cancer. He has used up all his savings, including funds received through a crowd fundraising campaign and from all our friends (who generously donated), for an allogeneic stem cell transplant therapy. Unfortunately, the transplant was a temporary measure to combat his cancer and he has now developed further complications due to his debilitating condition. At the moment, with the generous support of PKC FOUNDATION he is undergoing blood transfusions every month. Doctors have advised that one of the potential strategies to fight his cancer and present him with a better quality of life is a bone morrow transplant. This therapy as of now seems like the last option available for him, from an exhaustive treatment list which was previously considered, but it comes with a very heavy financial burden.
The excruciating price of Rs. 50, 75, 000 has been billed as an overall expenditure which also includes Bone Marrow Transplant.
In the midst of his life’s darkest hour, SK still believes that life is worth fighting for instead of living in the dark shadow of the abrupt eclipse, he has decided to come out to seek help. His defiant zeal to fight is what keeping his people around him strong.
THE IMPACT:
The difference you can make in SK’s life and his family is incredible, I hardly know where to begin describing the impact it would make.
Your contribution helps SK to start a new life
Helps his mother and can make a difference in his life and shows still humanity exists
You can not only save him and his family but also his dreams and goals
The list goes on...
It is uncertain of the amount of money that will be collected by the time of the bone marrow transplant; I really hope that the contribution of each and everyone who is reading this article will make a huge difference for Shashank’s treatment.
According to the family, if they are able to raise more than the required amount, the extra funds will be utilized for another needy patient who is struggling for funds.
This is not it. All those who cannot financially help can raise their voices and share the story of Shashank Keerthi and save him. Get the word out and share with everyone you know.
Usually when I sit in solitude and wonder what different I can do that will help the mankind, I think the time is now. You can help those struggling with life and issue them a supportive place where they can again find connection, comfort, and inspiration and above all, hope for a brighter tomorrow.
If you need to talk to Shashank himself, you may contact on: +91 9553403548 or email him at [email redacted].
Here are the Bank Details if one wishes to deposit funds directly in the account.
Shashank Keerthi
HDFC Bank – Account No: 50100090227777
IFSC Code – HDFC0000377
Please see the following for the details of his cancer type and overall condition;
Details of his type of cancer,
Brief Summary:
Myelodysplastic Syndrome-RAEB-2
Cytogenetics: Normal
FLT3/NPM1/CEBPA: Not Detected
History:
He is a 27 years old patient, non-diabetic male presented with c/o weakness, dizziness, fatigue and breathlessness on exertion since 8 months.
Prior to that he was suffering from pleural effusion and he got treated in Yashoda Hospitals in India where doctors removed the fluid from the right lung.
Patient evaluated for the same and found to have low HB for which he received 5 units of packed cells.
Last blood transfusion was given in first week of last month.
Family History:
Mother alive. 1 sister - Married.
On Examination :
PS2, pallor+, fully oriented, afebrile, vitals: stable, no lymphadenopathy, no gum hypertrophy.
CNS: Conscious, Oriented.
Chest : Clear after removal of the fluid.
CVS: NAD
P/A: soft, no organomegaly.
Co- Morbidity : HT: No, DM: No, Others: No
He was Evaluated with HB: 7, plt : 24000 with progressive fall.
Peripheral Smear: Leucoerythroblastic picture with 8% blast.
Special Investigations:
Bone Marrow aspiration: MDS-RAEB2 (16% Blast)
Bone Marrow Biopsy: Showing ~97% marrow cellularity. There is marked myeloid prominence. Megakaryocytes are showing displastic changes. Interstially scattered immature cells are seen. No large sheet or cluster of blast seen.
Cytogenetics : 48 X,Y
Flow Cytometry Report: Sample show 10% abnormal events which are positive for myeloid markers along with aberrant cd19 & cd7.
Positive for CD34, HLA-DR, Myeloperoxidase, CD117, CD13, CD11c, CD19, CD38 and Negative for CD64, CD10, CD79A, CD22, CD20, CD3, CD5, CD7.
FLT3 Mutations Assay : NOT DETECTED.
NPM1/CEBPA Mutations : No Mutations were detected.
C.Difficle Toxin a&'b' symptoms : Negative
Vitamin D : 21.9
Bone Marrow aspiration: Marked diluted aspirate smear showing predominantly mature lymphocytes and 6% blasts. Peripheral smear shows pancytopenia.
Bone Marrow Biopsy: Hypocellular marrow (Post chemotherapy) with persistent disease. Addendum report: IHC for CD34 is Negative.
IHC for CD117 shows increased immature cells and is positive in ~20~27% of all Haemoietic cells.
Bone Marrow aspiration: Blast Constitute 8% (32/500) of all nucleated cells . Occasional Blasts show auer rods. Bone marrow is not in morphological remission.
Patient was admitted for induction chemotherapy(3+7) with InjDaunorubicin and InjCytarabine.
Patient was planned to give Decitabine based chemotherapy and regular blood transfusions till he receives the desired funds for bone marrow transplant.
We are grateful for your help!
Organizer
Sree Harsha Yerrabelli
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
