Hi, my name is Pranathi, and I'm creating this GoFundMe on behalf of a dear friend, Raghav Poddar, and his family.
Raghav has recently graduated from the UBC Sauder School of Business with an honors degree in Commerce, specializing in Business Technology Management. His family arrived in Vancouver late May to celebrate his graduation from UBC. What should have been a time of joy and togetherness turned into a life-altering tragedy.
On May 30, 2025, while traveling on Vancouver Island, Raghav’s family: his mother Shalu, sister Vedika, and father Deepak, were involved in a horrific car accident. The crash resulted in severe injuries to all four members of the family and led to emergency hospitalization in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Victoria General Hospital.
- Vedika (Raghav's sister) suffered a ruptured diaphragm, neck fracture, spleen rupture, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). She was airlifted to Victoria and spent time on a ventilator. After a month of hospitalization and a miraculous recovery process, she has now been discharged and is returning to India to continue intensive TBI therapy. Vedika is due to begin her Master’s degree at Stanford University later this year, and we are praying for her full recovery before then.
- Shalu (Raghav's mother) endured multiple fractures: her right knee and ankle, left femur, and left elbow were all broken. She underwent major surgeries, where plates and screws were inserted into her limbs to keep them intact. She is currently completely immobile and cannot put any weight on either leg, requiring full-time assistance.
- Raghav himself sustained a broken nose and left collarbone and had to undergo major abdominal surgery to remove perforated portions of his small intestine. After weeks of hospitalization, he was discharged and has been slowly returning to Nanaimo to help his mom.
- Deepak (Raghav's father) suffered a broken nose and collarbone, along with severe bruising. He has since returned to India to manage urgent personal matters and coordinate with the insurance provider to handle the family’s medical claims.
Of all the injuries, the mental and emotional scarring this has caused the family may be the hardest to heal from. What was supposed to be a joyful celebration of Raghav’s graduation has turned into a prolonged period of trauma, fear, and uncertainty. The physical pain is immense, but the emotional weight of watching loved ones suffer, while far from home and support, has been indescribable.
The Current Situation
Right now, Shalu aunty remains stuck in Canada, completely bedridden and far from her support systems. While the family is working tirelessly with their travel insurance company, the total cost of care for all members is expected to exceed $400,000. The uncertainty around whether these expenses will be reimbursed is deeply stressful, but the most urgent priority now is to bring Shalu aunty home to Bhubaneswar, India.
Her treating physician has strongly recommended medical repatriation, emphasizing that returning to her home environment is vital for her emotional and physical recovery. She needs to be surrounded by familiar faces, language, and care, not isolated in a foreign medical system where she struggles to communicate.
Every additional day she remains in Canada delays her healing and puts emotional and financial strain on the entire family.
How You Can Help
We are raising funds to cover the cost of medical transportation and bring Shalu aunty home safely. The cost of a medically-assisted flight is extremely high, but it is the only safe option for someone in her condition.
Please consider donating whatever you can to support this incredibly kind and resilient family. If you're unable to donate, sharing this campaign with your networks would mean the world to us.
This was meant to be a joyful trip for a proud family attending their son’s graduation. Now, they are navigating recovery, uncertainty, and financial hardship in a foreign country.
Let’s come together to help send Shalu aunty home and support the Poddar family through this unimaginable journey.
Organizzatore e beneficiario
Pranathi Kanisetty
Organizzatore
Vancouver, BC
Raghav Poddar
Beneficiario