"Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom." - Rumi
Purvi Patel: Fierce Friend
We are the original Indian Hollywood, Florida Group from the 1980s. We all grew up together on the beach near Fort Lauderdale, living the dream, when life was simple and we were all in grade school. Our parents were best friends, immigrants that piled us all up in the station wagon and brought us to the water park.. We saw each other nearly every weekend, when our dads chatted about the future and our moms whipped up the best food.
We all genuinely played, without electronics, but with whatever boxes and sporting equipment we had around. In that, we all became lifelong friends.
One of those lifelong friends we lost along the way, Purvi Patel was the sweetest in the group, always making sure everyone was included- as the middle child herself she made sure we were all tight, from the youngest to the oldest. She had a beautiful smile.
One day when Purvi was 12, she was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. Just a few months later, she passed away. For many of us that was a life changing moment, losing one of our own at such a young age. This impacted us for the rest of our lives.
Now, as adults, some of us with kids around the same age, we wanted to come together to remember Purvi-- and also make a mark on future research and hope for those that are newly diagnosed. May friend groups stay whole, forever moving forward.
Eva Lipman: Loving Mother
Eva Lipman was 74 years young when we got her diagnosis of a rare aggressive form of T cell lymphoma. She had so much life ahead of her. I had just met the man of my dreams who would become my husband and now I’m due in May with our first baby, a daughter. Naming our daughter after my mother is something o never knew I would have to do. She should be here watching me become a mother.
Premil Patel: Devoted Son
On November 7, 2016, my son, Premil Patel, was hospitalized after he was found to have a large chest mass and rapidly became critically ill, requiring life support in the ICU and after three weeks, he was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, acute megakaryoblastic leukemia with a mediastinal germ cell tumor. Premil fought as hard as possible against two different cancers but was taken from us much too soon on December 11, 2016 at the young age of 22.
Jignesh was diagnosed in August 2013 with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He celebrated his 45th birthday in the hospital. One month after his diagnosis, I lost my dear husband on September 20th.
Jignesh had the ability to win everyone’s heart. He could talk to a stranger and instantly win their heart with his warm smile and loving nature. He always put others' needs before his own, always lent a hand, no questions asked, and never looked for anything in return. He always worked hard to make sure he was there for his family, never missing kids’ games and school activities, or any of our appointments.
While he accomplished so much, he still had many dreams. He dreamed one day of getting his pilot’s license and flying high in the sky. He also loved golf, but never got to truly enjoy the game. He dreamed so bright, but many dreams were left unfulfilled.
He was a beautiful son, brother, husband, father, uncle, coach, and a loving human being. We all continue to feel the pain of his loss.