Help Dinesh Walk Again – Support Urgent Surgery in Sri Lanka.

Hi, I’m Anna — a coach, content creator, and traveler. I've traveled my whole life and for the past 6 years, I’ve been living and working around the world full-time. One of the things that’s stayed with me most is the kindness of the people I’ve met along the way. I believe in giving back to the communities that have welcomed me — and today, I’m asking for your help to support one of those families.

In 2017, I visited Ella, Sri Lanka, and stayed at the most beautiful homestay — a humble place run by Dinesh and his family. I still remember the homemade breakfasts on the balcony, overlooking the jungle. When my friend Elisa got sick, they cared for her like one of their own. Their warmth and generosity left a deep mark on me.

Since then, I’ve kept in touch with Dinesh and have always been happy to hear that he and his children were doing well. But recently, the messages I’ve received from him have been heartbreaking

Dinesh is now paralyzed in one leg. He cannot walk or stand. He’s been trying different treatments for months — first with traditional Ayurvedic medicine (8 months), and now with Western medicine. Doctors have told him he urgently needs two surgeries on his neck and spine. Without them, he risks becoming permanently bedridden from the waist down. (Medical terms: Dinesh has a D8 Ventral cord herniation and needs a Dorsal Laminectomy Plus Anterior Decompression - reports in the pictures).

“I want to live for a while longer,” he told me.

“But we are very helpless now. We have lost everything that belongs to us.”

His wife is blind in one eye and unable to work. Their son, who used to help support the family, has also recently had an accident. They have a daughter, and you can only imagine how difficult it must be for her to support the family on her own. They are truly on their own — unless we come together to help.

This isn’t the first time Dinesh and his family have faced crisis. In 2020, after months of heavy rains, a landslide destroyed the slope beneath their home in Ella, leaving the building on the brink of collapse. His wife and children had to evacuate and stay with neighbors while we fundraised together to help build a retaining wall and protect their home. It was a terrifying time — and still, they carried on with hope. But life has dealt them another heavy blow.

The total cost of the operations and medical care is 3.8 million Sri Lankan rupees (around €11,000 / $12,000). The funds raised will be used for them to pay for the surgery. For them, it’s impossible. For us, it’s something we can do — together.

I know I couldn’t forgive myself if he became fully paralyzed and I hadn’t even tried to help. This is someone who opened his home and heart to me as a stranger. Now it’s my turn — our turn — to show up for him.

If you’ve ever traveled and been welcomed like family…

If you believe in kindness, in community care, in standing by people when they need it most…

Please consider donating. Every euro, dollar, and share makes a real difference.

Thank you for reading and for being part of this with me.

— Anna

Dinesh doing Ayurveda treatments:

Happy me & friends after staying at Dinesh's home in 2018:

The wonderful breakfast we were given:

We can help them smile like this again:

The medical reports: