Everlasting be your memory, Bevin

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Bevin.jpg Bevin Varughese passed away today, in New York.

We posted about his fight with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia back in October, a few weeks after his cancer returned. A bone marrow transplant was his only hope for survival. I wish I had had the time to post more about the drives his determined friends put together, all over the East coast, in order to save their friend.

Bevin never found a match.

After two rounds of chemotherapy, he caught an infection; now he is gone. Many of you lurkers either grew up with him in New York, attended church with him, or knew him from his days as a student at Temple University, in Philadelphia. I’ve heard from a few of you, about this heart-breaking loss:

He fought so hard and was always so positive, with a smile on his face despite enduring the worst of health conditions. He never once complained.
I still remember him from college. I had the biggest honking crush on him but I was too scared to talk to desi guys. He was really nice, though…

I’ve also heard the now-cliched phrases about “the good dying young” but more than that, I’m struck by how gracious and optimistic Bevin was, until the end. I don’t know why we lose certain people, when or how we do, but I do know that we can’t keep letting this happen. I implore you, if you are not already part of the National Marrow Donor Program, to consider becoming a committed donor. It’s too late to save Bevin, but you might save someone else, who is just as loved and cherished.

My thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and the strangers who didn’t even know him personally, but did amazing things like run marathons in his name. May Bevin’s memory be eternal.

27 thoughts on “Everlasting be your memory, Bevin”

  3. i’m so sad to read this. i ran in honor of him this past october, while raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. it’s really really sad to read this, but from what i gathered from his friends, he was, as you wrote, a very positive and uplifting person.

  7. A message Bevin posted for Vinay: “Although we will probably never understand why bad things happen to good people, I truly believe God picks the strongest individuals to go through these trials. It helps us and those who love us understand what really matters in this world. I admire your strength. Keep up the good fight.”

    We admire you, Bevin. RIP.

  9. My prayers go out to his friends and family. May their hearts and souls find peace and comfort.

  10. I had the biggest honking crush on him but I was too scared to talk to desi guys.

    Ouch.

  12. My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. On a side note does anyone know if there is a Marrow Registry in India? If not, should there be one? I know you can’t rely on the Indian Govt. for this. However, this may be good idea for any of you pursuing a social / charitable mission.

  14. From Bevin’s blog, January 19th:

    You’ve Re-lapsed
    Those are some pretty ugly words. And so far, I’ve had to hear them twice in the last 6 months.
    I found out on Wed. during a routine follow up that the doctors had discovered blasts within my blood. This hit me pretty hard, I think a little harder than the first time back in September. But it was imminent that the disease was going to find it’s way back. I was off the juice for too long. The last chemo dose I received in the hospital was the first week of Oct. Since then, the only reason for my long hospital stay was due to infections and fungal pneumonia that was pretty persistent. That delayed my recovery time and the time for them to begin the next phase. So in my opinion, I was in remission for four months on what’s considered an inadequate amount of chemo. I’ll take it. I just need to be more cautious this round. I need to do whatever I can to try and keep my hospital time limited. The good thing is I’ve brought my weight and strength back up to a normal state. Thanks to all my workout sessions at the gym with Jay. And of course mom’s cooking, who by the way, fed me like I was a 250lbs man. I was able to spend Thanksgiving at home, Christmas with the family and even celebrate the new year with a couple of close friends. So I feel good again. I know it’s bound to get worse, even by tomorrow, but I’ve shed most of my worries. Now, it’s battle time once again. There has not been one time throughout this whole process that I’ve felt God has left me. B/c if he left me, I wouldn’t still be here. And I know he’s watching and listening. I know he hasn’t forgotten.

    We won’t forget, either.

  15. 14 · A N N A on February 7, 2008 11:39 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?) From Bevin’s blog, January 19th: I was able to spend Thanksgiving at home, Christmas with the family and even celebrate the new year with a couple of close friends. So I feel good again. I know it’s bound to get worse, even by tomorrow, but I’ve shed most of my worries. Now, it’s battle time once again. There has not been one time throughout this whole process that I’ve felt God has left me. B/c if he left me, I wouldn’t still be here. And I know he’s watching and listening. I know he hasn’t forgotten.

    This is good reminder that we’re all going to die, and most of us in circumstances of less dignity than Bevin, I supsect/fear. I’m not sure what else to say.

  16. This is very sad news and I sincerely hope his family and friends find strength in this difficult time.

    I am registered in the National Bone Marrow Donation registry and I assume it is only to help US patients, correct? Does anyone know if a similar program exists in India or if any international registry exists? Just wondering if something like an international pool of potential donors would be feasible and practical because that sounds like it might help others. Since India has about a billion people (and of course China does too) and maybe there would be a better chance of getting more matching Asian/ South Asian donors.

  17. It is just hurting my heart to read his words. What a brave, intelligent and positive soul the world lost.

    It just seems like there are so many more success stories these days with kidney/liver/lung/cornea/other organ transplants. Is the bone marrow transplant more complicated? I am not sure if this is the appropriate forum for this, and I really apologize if it is off topic, etc. Can any of the medical researchers/professionals help me understand this?

  19. Very sad. There was another young person that I heard about, also from Kerala, who had died from leukemia. Since these are the only two people I know of, who’ve had leukemia (and also since I don’t know many Keralites in the first place), I was wondering if leukemia was rather more prevalent among this group.

    I remember people at that time ascribed the reason to the parents being first cousins.

  20. How devastating. My thoughts, prayers, and love go out to his family and friends. Bevin was a wonderful, positive soul who was taken from us too soon.

    RIP Bevin.

  22. Does anyone know if a similar program exists in India or if any international registry exists?

    Yes – see this – click the “Project India ” button on the left

  23. His warmth and good heart shine through his posts. RIP, Bevin, I’m sorry we lost you too soon, my prayers and condolences to our family & friends.

  24. Karuna niranjavane, punurudhanathin, ninnude srishtiye nee Puthuthakee daname. Ninnil saranathal nidrayail aaye ninde varavinu kaatheedum.. mrutharil kani yaname!

  25. Rest in peace, Bevin. May his family get the strength to cope with this. It’s heartbreaking…he’s so young and seems to full of life. I was agonizing over life’s problems, and then I came to know about this. I am ashamed and feel that I should count my blessings to be alive and have the capability to work.

  26. 19 · my_dog_jagat said

    I was wondering if leukemia was rather more prevalent among this group.

    I have also come across several Keralites suffering (and even death) from cancer (not just leukemia) in the short two years I have known Kerala. I have been really concerned and tried to look up irradiation levels, or possible diet patterns for the cause. I am really concerned, because I have relatives there. Does anyone know why there is such a high rate of cancer in Kerala ?