( CNN ) -- I came to America as a transfer student in the fall of 2004 . I did three years of computer engineering in India and then transferred to Purdue University Calumet . On July 2 , 2005 , just a month before graduation , a guy who lived on the first floor of my apartment building set fire to his place . He wrapped his baby in a blanket , put the baby in a car seat , put the car seat in the closet and then poured gasoline over the apartment with his baby and wife still in it . He then set the whole place on fire and left . The fire started at 4:30 a.m. My roommate and I could not jump out with the balcony and windows engulfed in flames . As my roommate fell unconscious in front of me , I started running down the stairs and passed out . A firefighter found my body and pulled me out . As the paramedics were taking me to the hospital , I heard one say , `` This guy is 95 % burned ; he does n't have a chance . '' At that moment , I thought about my family and how I came to America to get good education , and now I did n't have a chance to live . I was soon unconscious and later woke up in the University of Chicago burn unit after four months in an induced coma . The man 's wife , his baby and my best friend and roommate , Prabhat Singhal , died in the fire . After seven months in Chicago , I was transferred to Wishard Health Services in Indianapolis for my rehabilitation . I do n't have any family in America so I lived in a nursing home . I stayed there for 2Â½ years while I went through reconstructive surgeries to regain range of motion in my arms . For more than five years , I went through an intense therapy program . I wore a face mask for three years and pressure garments on my entire body ; I wore dynamic splints on my hands , wrists and elbows to increase range of motion , daily dressing changes to my wounds and performing hourly exercises to restore function in all of my joints . I wanted to get an MBA so I studied in my extra time . I scheduled my Graduate Management Admission Test , or GMAT , exam and got a six-hour pass from the nursing home to take the test . I scored 700 on my GMAT and got accepted into the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Evening MBA program in Indianapolis . I wanted to go to a part-time program since I did n't know how much of a course load I would be able to take . Everyone gets their acceptance letter mailed to his home ; I got my letter mailed to the nursing home . My doctors did everything they could to help me regain range of motion in my arms . Even after 54 surgeries , I am still very limited . I do n't have any finger movement in my left hand and very limited finger movement in my right hand . I type with one finger . I rely on various adaptive equipments to perform my activities of daily living . This horrific crime not only left me with disabilities but also interfered with my visa . I have not seen most of my family in India since the accident seven years ago , because I am still waiting on a green card . My sister has been denied a visa four times in trying to visit me . I have been able to come out of this tragedy because of the values that my parents instilled in me and the help from my occupational therapist . My parents taught me the value of education , hard work and perseverance . They taught me to be content in life no matter what the circumstances . They taught me that `` we can always find someone who is in worse condition than we are in . So be thankful for what you have . '' I call my occupational therapist , Shannon Hendricks , my guardian angel . God sent her into my life when I was in the deepest and darkest pit of my life . She took me to church every Sunday while I stayed in the nursing home , which brought some normalcy into my life . Today , I can live independently because of her hard work . After 3Â½ years , I graduated with my MBA on May 13 . I am now seeking a job in finance . To give back to the community , I volunteered in the Wishard therapy department between many of my surgeries . I still visit the Wishard burn unit and talk to other burn patients about my experience . I also lecture at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis to occupational therapy students about all the adaptive equipment I use to live independently . I have had some wonderful people in my life who have helped me in my journey . I plan to do the same for other people .
. Rana , a native of India , nearly died in an apartment fire after going to study in the U.S. Rana underwent three surgeries and five years of an intense rehabilitation program . He credits his parents and his occupational therapy for his recovery and survival . He graduated with his MBA this month and is looking for a job in finance .