My father, Eswara Naik is fighting for his life in ICU. He traveled from India to Australia to visit me during Christmas with his heart full of joy to see his daughter after ages. But within days, a rare and aggressive bacteria called Listeria attacked his system. What started as simple flu-like symptoms quickly escalated into life-threatening meningitis and brainstem inflammation.

Listeria meningoencephalitis is a severe, life-threatening central nervous system infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. It involves inflammation of both the meninges (protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord) and the brain tissue itself, and it carries a high mortality rate of approximately 25% to 30%, even with treatment.

The Current Battle

Today, my father is fighting for every breath in the ICU at Northern Hospital, Epping. He is in a coma, on a ventilator, and battling neurological seizures. While the doctors in hospital are doing everything they can, the cost of his care as an uninsured international visitor is staggering—exceeding $5,000 AUD per day. My father is the pillar of our family—a man known for his gentle nature and hardworking spirit. Seeing him like this, tethered to machines and unable to open his eyes, is a pain we wouldn't wish on anyone.

Why We Need Your Help

I have exhausted all my savings, and as he is not eligibile for insurance being a Indian citizen, I am facing an impossible mountain of medical debt. The only hope is to stabilize him enough to fly him back to India. This specialized transfer will allow him to continue his long-term recovery at home in India, surrounded by his extended family and at a cost we can actually manage. The medical bills alone will cost over USD 100,000 and transfering to India via Air Ambulance will cost additional USD 150,000 which brings the total at USD 250,000.

We are doing everything we can from our end, but this amount is far beyond our reach.

Where the Funds Go

• ICU and hospital bills

• Surgery, medications, and medical tests

• Overseas patient and specialist fees

• Medical transport and ongoing care

How You Can Help

If you cannot donate, we ask for two things:

* Share this link: Post this on your WhatsApp groups, Facebook, and LinkedIn. One share could reach the person who can help us bridge the gap.

* Pray for him: We believe in the power of collective hope. Please keep Eswara in your thoughts.

We just want to bring our father home. Every dollar, every share, and every prayer brings us one step closer to that goal.