I am creating this fundraiser on behalf of my dear friend and her family during one of the most frightening and heartbreaking moments of their lives.

Their beloved Babushka, Lilia Avoutova, a 78-year-old grandmother who means the world to them, is currently in a coma in the ICU in Kunming, China, thousands of miles away from her home and family in Vancouver.

Babushka is the heart of their family. She is warm, gentle, and endlessly caring. She has always been the kind of person who puts everyone else first—her children, her grandchildren, and her friends. To those who know her, she is the person who brings comfort, laughter, and love wherever she goes.

Her grandchildren lovingly call her “Babushka,” and she adores them more than anything in the world.

In her retirement years, she loved traveling back to China, the place where she was born. Those trips brought her joy and helped her stay connected to her past.

But on March 6, 2026, everything changed.

While visiting Kunming, Babushka suddenly suffered a severe stroke and fell. The stroke caused bleeding in her brain (a cerebral hemorrhage) and blocked blood flow to part of her brain. Her condition quickly became more serious. She is now also fighting respiratory failure and pneumonia.

She has been in a coma in the ICU since March 8.

All her family wants is to bring Babushka home to Vancouver, where she can receive the care she needs and be surrounded by the people who love her most.

Unfortunately, bringing her home is extremely expensive.

A specialized medical evacuation flight that could transport her immediately costs approximately $375,000 CAD.

Another option is to wait until she becomes stable enough to travel on a commercial flight with a medical stretcher, equipment, and a medical support team, which would cost about $80,000 CAD. Doctors believe this may take 2–3 months before she is stable enough to travel.

While she remains in China, the ICU care alone costs about $1,000 CAD per day.

The financial burden is overwhelming for the family, but they are determined not to give up on bringing Babushka home.

Funds raised will help cover:

Babushka has spent her life caring for others. She has always been the first to help, the first to comfort, and the first to put family before herself.

Now it is our turn to help her.

If you are able to donate, even a small amount, it would mean the world to the family. Every contribution brings them one step closer to bringing Babushka home.

If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this campaign. Spreading the word can make a life-changing difference.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, compassion, and support during this incredibly difficult time.

With gratitude,

A friend of the family