How Rhythm Kasat and Harshit Talwar started The Embrace EB Organization
At the time I was born, not many people were aware of Epidermolysis Bullosa. My parents, who lived in India, thought that they would be conceiving a perfectly normal child. That was something that every couple in India would assume. I was born on October 25, 2005, to my loving parents, Sakshi and Navdeep Talwar, in New Delhi, India. The doctors at the hospital did not know much about the condition I was born with, but miraculously, the doctor who ended up taking care of me after birth would be the only one in the city who had the knowledge to help me start a good life.
Back in 2005, my parents thought that I had been given a death sentence by having this condition, but with many reassurances from doctors, they realized this was a condition that could be treated and taken care of. Three and a half years of living in India passed by, and everything seemed normal. My parents seemed to adjust to the idea of their son having fragile skin, and all our family and friends were extremely supportive. At that time, my dad was given the offer to move to Singapore, which he initially declined, but after his senior manager convinced him that it would be the best move for his family, he agreed. He took us on a preview trip to Singapore, starting the next chapter of my life, as my education and fight towards EB would greatly benefit.
The move to Singapore solved as many questions as it produced. The bandages recommended were expensive, and I had started to face issues with swallowing. However, the next 6 and a half years would go by with many joys but still many mysteries. That is when the next phase of my life began.
My dad was once again given the offer to move countries and come to the United States. Aware of the research happening in the US regarding EB and the opportunity for better education, he chose to make the move. Around this time, the reality of life and the sense of growing responsibility hit me. I was realizing that moving from one place to another meant leaving my friends behind and starting a new life in a new place with a new culture. These thoughts terrified me because all I had ever known was the life we had in Singapore, and anything apart from this was completely unknown. However, the thought of having better treatment and the possibility of a brighter future encouraged me to accept this new adventure. Besides I now had a younger sister who would be by my side during this time of change.
The first few months in the United States were a rollercoaster of emotions. Seeing the perfectly clean streets and the large expanses of Colorado Springs was awe-inspiring to a person who had mostly been raised on island. Even though the scenery was starkly different, I fell in love with it completely. Then came the social challenges that I had to face when I joined elementary school. I was in 4th grade and 10 years old when we moved here, and my classmates looked at me as if I were from a different planet. For the first semester, I was shunned to one side and not many people wanted to look at me, let alone be friends. But one person that I met who would be with me throughout my entire academic journey was Connor Bishop. Connor was extremely kind and took me under his wing, making me feel like I belonged.
It was around 7th grade when we were going to take another regular trip around Colorado to a city called Aspen. I was excited for the trip and was ready to experience the new city plus the beauties of fall. Little did I know that on this trip, I would meet someone who would alter my life in a way that I would always be thankful for. Rhythm Kasat was only 8 years old, a kid in comparison to 12-year-old me. But somehow, someway we hit it off and we continued to hang out over the following months. Like most other kids I had met, Rhythm was curious about me, but I did not mind sharing my experiences with this new kid I had never met. He was kind and compassionate in a way few people in my life were, and in a way he felt like the little brother I never had. A thing that we ended up bonding over was music. Music has been an anchor in my life whenever I have had a lot of pain. From here, time seemed to fly by. Even during the 2020 pandemic, I had Rhythm there whom I could talk to and share my feelings, and he would be just as ready to share his feelings with me. Through my many surgeries and hospitalizations, Rhythm was always there to help me out.
One night, when I was in India in December, 2024 Rhythm called me from Colorado with a brilliant idea he had. He asked me whether I would like to join him in starting a nonprofit. This was one of the many things I loved about Rhythm. This 9th grader was passionate enough about our friendship that he asked me about doing something together to benefit an important cause. This was the start of The Embrace EB Organization. Just the two of us, halfway across the world working on an idea and wanting to give back to the community that had given so much to us.
My name is Rhythm Kasat, and I am a sophomore at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Growing up, I always had a passion for sports, math, and helping the community. I have been playing competitive basketball since the age of 6, and I currently play tennis and basketball for my high school. I truly believe that giving back to the community is one of the most important things to dedicate time towards, and this is one of my main reasons for starting The Embrace EB Organization. I am a consistent volunteer at the library and throughout my high school, and I hope to continue to help work towards a better future through this organization.
I met Harshit for the first time when I was in the 3rd grade. I had just moved from Pennsylvania to Colorado, and this was a major turning point in my life. I recall asking my mom if we were moving out of the country because I had never heard of a state called Colorado growing up on the East Coast. Within the first few weeks, we made numerous friends, and I was starting to settle in. Around this time, we headed to Aspen, Colorado, with our new friends, where I saw Harshit for the first time.
As I opened the door of the car, I saw someone out of the corner of my eye. Someone who immediately caught my eye. That person was Harshit. He was unlike anyone I had ever seen before. He was covered in bandages and seemed to be in a lot of pain. I felt deeply saddened, almost to the point of tears. Dozens of questions flooded through my head. How did this happen? What caused this? It was a lot for my young brain to handle at the time. Over the next few days, I observed from a distance, but as the months continued, my friendship with Harshit truly started to blossom.
I learned about the rare condition he had and realized how kind a person he was. I heard about the pain and suffering he had overcome to be in the position he was, and it was inspiring. I watched through times of pain and joy, from hospital visits to his high school graduation. This is what prompted the idea and beginning of The Embrace EB Organization. With The Embrace EB Organization, I hope to help other kids suffering from EB and learn more about myself as an individual.
"Teamwork is the secret that makes common people achieve uncommon results" — Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha
