Help Sameer Shah get home in his fight with ALS
Donation protected
It is with great sadness and immense hope that we are urgently requesting everyone's help.
Sameer and Nilu(Nilkamal) represent a loving and talented Indian couple living their dream life in the USA, exploring new challenges and achievements in their life journey.
As we hope each year to bring new opportunities, 2019 was one of the most joyous years in Sameer Shah’s life, yet it was also his scariest. Sameer and his wife, Nilu(Nilkamal), were given the happy news that they were going to have a baby in March 2020. Months after finding out he was going to be a dad, Sameer started having difficulties with his speech and mobility. After multiple tests, the doctors gave Sameer the horrible news in December 2019 that he has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ) or Lou Gehrig's Disease.
By June 2020, the ALS had progressed rapidly in Sameer’s body and he started losing his ability to walk and talk. Despite his best efforts, his legs continued to get weaker day by day and his body weight fell from 210 pounds to 140 pounds by November 2020. By then Nilu(Nilkamal)was struggling to manage her work, their 8th-month baby, and the increasing level of care needed for Sameer. It seemed like she was working 24/7 even with the help of Sameer’s mother who flew in from India to help.
Further tragedy hit the family in December 2020, when Sameer’s father came from India to see Sameer. He suffered a major heart attack in front of the family and passed away weeks after his arrival. His heart could not bear to see Sameer suffering.
As of today, Sameer has lost more weight, he is 100% bedridden, and not able to move any of his body parts except for his eyes. He is dependent on a ventilator to breathe and a feeding tube for nutrition. Their expenses are increasing every day and their insurance does not cover all medical demands for in-home care. The cost of keeping a 24/7 caretaker for Sameer is a minimum of $800 per day which is beyond their reach.
If doctors allow Sameer to travel, Nilu(Nilkamal) and Sameer would like to go back to India. ALS is a progressive disease, Sameer is looking forward to going back, and spending the next phase of his life with his extended family there. This decision was also made because of the many responsibilities Nilu has. Nilu(Nilkamal) can not manage here in the USA on her own, caring for both their baby and Sameer. In India, Sameer and Nilu have extended family to support them emotionally and physically. They can also help with the care for Sameer’s increasing needs. Due to Sameer’s current health conditions, he would have to be transported via an Air Ambulance. The current estimates for the Air Ambulance and Rehabilitation will be $400K to $600K depending on his medical needs at the time of flying.
Whether here or the couple chooses to go to India, Nilu and Sameer need tremendous support. We need your help and generous donations to help this loving family who has been going through so much. Please consider financially supporting them, and most importantly praying for them as they live through this most tragic and terrifying situation, which no one should ever face.
Here are details of Nilu's venmo account for direct deposit:
Sameer and Nilu(Nilkamal) represent a loving and talented Indian couple living their dream life in the USA, exploring new challenges and achievements in their life journey.
As we hope each year to bring new opportunities, 2019 was one of the most joyous years in Sameer Shah’s life, yet it was also his scariest. Sameer and his wife, Nilu(Nilkamal), were given the happy news that they were going to have a baby in March 2020. Months after finding out he was going to be a dad, Sameer started having difficulties with his speech and mobility. After multiple tests, the doctors gave Sameer the horrible news in December 2019 that he has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ) or Lou Gehrig's Disease.
By June 2020, the ALS had progressed rapidly in Sameer’s body and he started losing his ability to walk and talk. Despite his best efforts, his legs continued to get weaker day by day and his body weight fell from 210 pounds to 140 pounds by November 2020. By then Nilu(Nilkamal)was struggling to manage her work, their 8th-month baby, and the increasing level of care needed for Sameer. It seemed like she was working 24/7 even with the help of Sameer’s mother who flew in from India to help.
Further tragedy hit the family in December 2020, when Sameer’s father came from India to see Sameer. He suffered a major heart attack in front of the family and passed away weeks after his arrival. His heart could not bear to see Sameer suffering.
As of today, Sameer has lost more weight, he is 100% bedridden, and not able to move any of his body parts except for his eyes. He is dependent on a ventilator to breathe and a feeding tube for nutrition. Their expenses are increasing every day and their insurance does not cover all medical demands for in-home care. The cost of keeping a 24/7 caretaker for Sameer is a minimum of $800 per day which is beyond their reach.
If doctors allow Sameer to travel, Nilu(Nilkamal) and Sameer would like to go back to India. ALS is a progressive disease, Sameer is looking forward to going back, and spending the next phase of his life with his extended family there. This decision was also made because of the many responsibilities Nilu has. Nilu(Nilkamal) can not manage here in the USA on her own, caring for both their baby and Sameer. In India, Sameer and Nilu have extended family to support them emotionally and physically. They can also help with the care for Sameer’s increasing needs. Due to Sameer’s current health conditions, he would have to be transported via an Air Ambulance. The current estimates for the Air Ambulance and Rehabilitation will be $400K to $600K depending on his medical needs at the time of flying.
Whether here or the couple chooses to go to India, Nilu and Sameer need tremendous support. We need your help and generous donations to help this loving family who has been going through so much. Please consider financially supporting them, and most importantly praying for them as they live through this most tragic and terrifying situation, which no one should ever face.
Here are details of Nilu's venmo account for direct deposit:
Organiser and beneficiary
Family Of Sameer Shah
Organiser
Cerritos, CA
Nilkamal Patni
Beneficiary
