Help Agus Heal After Life-Changing Injury ❤️

Hi friends, family, and kind strangers,

After five years of running the Suwandi Foundation, this is the first time we’ve ever had to write something like this. This isn’t a fundraiser for the foundation. This is from us, Lily and Kaitlynn, as friends of Agus, Putu, and their three perfect little girls.

To be honest, we’re facing something really scary. We’ve kept it private for the last couple of weeks out of respect for Agus’ family and to give everyone time to process. We’re so sorry for the delay and for the shock you might feel reading this now.

We’re asking that you don’t share this on social media. Please feel free to text it to close friends or family, but no Instagram or public posts. Thank you for respecting that.

Three weeks ago, Agus fell from the big mango tree at the learning center and landed on the cement sport court. It happened during class time, so it was incredibly traumatic for all of our students, teachers, staff, and volunteers. Despite the chaos we were lucky to have an amazing group of volunteers and staff who jumped into action and got him into to the hospital and underwent emergency brain surgery (craniotomy), and spinal cord surgery (laminectomy). These surgeries are what saved his life. However, this injury has affected his mobility, movement in his arms and legs, and the recovery ahead will be long, uncertain, and expensive.

Agus spent nearly two weeks in the ICU in critical condition, so we have spent the past few weeks handling the emergency care, ensuring Yayasan can continue for the students and taking care of his family. The impact of Agus’s accident has been felt across the community especially since his accident took place in the space that is supposed to feel safest to the students and his family.

How Agus is continuing his recovery in an apartment near the hospital. He is currently undergoing physical therapy three times a week and will require full-time support to regain strength and mobility. Agus is slowly beginning to recover. But we won’t sugarcoat it. His speech, motor skills, and independence have all been affected. It’s going to be a long road.

If you’ve been to Bali and met Agus, you know that the families we work with live far below the poverty line. Basic things like food, education, water, and sanitation aren’t guaranteed. Agus grew up in those same conditions. Still, he took on personal debt and challenge after challenge to help build a learning center for the children in his village.

Many of you know Agus as a community leader, a change maker, and a role model. And he is. But he’s also a girl dad who does his daughters’ hair every morning. A husband who calls himself lucky every day to be with Putu. A friend who can make you laugh with a single look, who dances like a maniac, and who never lets anyone feel left out.

Agus has spent the past three years lifting up his community, and in doing so, he has changed all of our lives too. Now it’s our turn to show up for him.

This is just Lily and Kaitlynn asking for whatever support you can give.

We are hoping to help provide their family with at least $2,500 USD (approx. 40 million IDR) to support Agus’ recovery and rehabilitation, including:

And if you have Putu’s number, or are in touch with any of the learning center staff, please send them some love. Everyone who was there witnessed something horrific. They are all still shaken. The biggest comfort to Putu has been knowing that people are thinking of Agus and praying for him. If you do reach out, please let her know he is in your heart.

PS: We don’t care how you donate. GoFundMe, Venmo, Zelle, anything helps and it all goes straight to Agus’ family.

Venmo: @kaitlynn-pimentel
Zelle: (send us a text to get our Zelle as GoFund me will not allow us to post it)

We know how many of you love this place, these people, and this work. If you have questions or want to talk, just call or text us anytime.

We love you all, 
Kaitlynn and Lily