My cousin Sahil Kaushik, came to Canada as an international student in September 2023. He worked incredibly hard, completed his studies in May 2025, and after months of struggle finally secured his first corporate job in November 2025. He was just beginning to build a stable life.

Everything changed overnight.

On Saturday, January 17th, he suddenly developed severe, sharp pain in the perineal area. By Sunday morning the pain was unbearable, but because he has no OHIP or private insurance (he simply couldn’t afford it), he went to a walk in clinic instead of the ER. The doctor immediately put him on strong antibiotics and painkillers and sent him for an urgent ultrasound. By Monday afternoon, after reviewing the ultrasound, the clinic doctor told him to go to the Emergency Room immediately.

At the ER, he waited more than 4 hours in excruciating pain before being seen. Doctors rushed him for a CT scan, which took another hour and a half.

At one point, the pain was so intense he begged for anything to help him survive it. They finally gave him morphine the first relief he had felt in two days.

When the CT scan results came back, the surgeons told him that the scan showed a rapidly spreading bacterial infection. They explained that he needed emergency surgery immediately, and that while this operation was critical, he may require additional surgeries in the future depending on how the infection progresses. But at that moment, the message was clear: he needed surgery, and he needed it now. He was taken for emergency surgery right away.

He remained admitted in the hospital until Thursday, January 22nd, and now faces a massive bill for:

• Daily room charges

• Surgeon fees

• Medications

• Diagnostic tests (blood work, ultrasound, CT scan)

• Post operative care

Doctors have strictly advised 4 weeks of complete rest, or the infection could return. He cannot work, cannot earn, and has no insurance coverage to protect him. Right now, he is surviving only with the help of friends.

My cousin is a kind, humble, hardworking person who has never troubled anyone. He came to Canada with dreams, worked hard for everything he achieved, and now finds himself in a situation no one deserves.

I have created this fundraiser with a goal of $9,536 to help him:

• Pay his hospital and surgery bills

• Cover basic living expenses during his recovery

• Stay afloat until he is healthy enough to return to work

Any contribution big or small will make a real difference in his life. Even sharing this campaign helps more than you know.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and support.