On the day after Christmas last year (12/26/24), Aru Sau- a dear friend, family man, and exemplary human being- was hit and seriously injured by an intoxicated driver during a family vacation in Dubai. His medical bills currently exceed $20,000, and he has not been able to collect any compensation from the driver at fault or from his insurance. He also faces mounting attorney fees as he works with a lawyer in Dubai to hold the other driver accountable.

Let me tell you about Aru... He has a resounding passion for people. In the three years he lived in Portland, Oregon, it seemed as if he knew half the city. One year, he and I (along with another friend) threw a fundraiser to support a mentorship organization for homeless youth for our three birthdays (which are all in mid-April). So many people came that we raised thousands of dollars. That right there tells you everything you need to know about this man’s heart.

Years later he and his wife, Holly, moved to Detroit, Michigan, where they now call home. They had a son, now almost 3, and a baby girl, who just turned 1. She was diagnosed almost immediately with a dangerous brain condition. We cried and prayed together during the week that she was in the NICU. She pulled through, and I was able to meet her late last year. I could not get enough of her bright little smile.

Shortly after that visit, Aru took his family to see his parents in India. They first met up in Dubai for a special trip before they would continue on to Kolkata, their hometown. They were driving a rented van and were stopped at a red light when an SUV, speeding at an estimated 70-plus mph, struck them from behind. The driver, a Dubai resident, was under the influence of narcotics, according to the police report. Aru suffered a concussion, a broken arm, fractured bones in his right hand, and a torn MCL in his leg. His sister fractured her spine. His wife and children had minor head wounds. And fortunately, his parents escaped with only minor injuries.

The police officer who responded told Aru not to leave the country if he wanted to press charges and collect damages. But he did not have the money or the time off from work to stay in Dubai. He returned to the United States and underwent successful surgeries for his arm and hand. But a paperwork problem with his work prevented him from collecting short-term disability. He had to rush back to work while still healing, with a high level of nerve pain.

Now, those hospital bills are coming due, along with the attorney fees. While Aru serves as the rock of his family, he privately worries about the financial uncertainty he’s been thrust into. It’s a heavy weight to bear while he and his family attempt to heal physically and emotionally. The thought of him going to bed each night, not sure how he can provide for his family as the debts mount, quite frankly breaks my heart. And that is why I am appealing to all of you.

Many of you know Aru, and I’m sure many of you don’t. Just know that this is one of those rare people you meet in life who will do whatever he can for anyone who needs it, no questions asked. He is selfless to a fault. Now it’s our turn to return the love to him and his family in the time of their need.

Please click the link to donate generously whatever you can. Everything helps as we work to offset his legal and medical costs. This is the best way we can support a great father, husband, and pillar of every community he has been a part of. Thank you all.

-Marcus Berger on behalf of Aru Sau and his family