February 2007 - Austin College

ALUMNIPROFILE:SURVIVORA profile of Gulshan Rahman ’98by Brian BuiltaCOURTESY PHOTOGulshan RahmanHealth science has always been a part of Gulshan Rahman’s life: herfather is an oncologist; she majored in biology at Austin College,studied public health at the University of Texas Health ScienceCenter in Houston, and works as the health services manager for a Head Startprogram in Harris County.Still, she was unprepared in summer 2004 when her doctor said she neededto see a hematologist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. “You only go to M.D.Anderson for one thing,” Rahman said. At age 27, eight months after herwedding, Rahman was diagnosed with leukemia. “You can never be preparedfor something like that.”Rahman began chemotherapy and missed three months of work. She saidher body has not been the same since, but after a long struggle the cancerfinally moved toward remission. Now Rahman can at least think about beingherself again.“I’m still trying to find out what ‘myself’ is,” she said. “Things are sodifferent now. I live with it [cancer]. It’s a part of me now. And that’s okay.”Rahman said cancer gave her two appreciations: one, a reinforced love ofscience and discovery — “It saved my life,” she said, and another for family andfriends and “just how much people will pull through for you.”She fights back tears thinking about the support she received. Friendsdonated blood and platelets and her sister Happy even offered to donate stemcells, although that step was not necessary.“Whatever it took, they offered,” Rahman said. “That’s very powerful.”’Roo Notes Are Back!Austin College Magazine staff experimented with ’Roo Notes in the September2006 issue, posting some news items online only. Many alumni responded,preferring all notes be included in the printed publication. So, in this issue, andfuture ones, find news from all classes on these pages. Remember to visit theAlumni website to update contact information and learn about campus events.www.austincollege.edu/Category.asp?697AUSTIN COLLEGE MAGAZINE 45