Support for Barbara’s Medical Expenses

Barbara Kashinosha has suffered three heart attacks within the span of 10 days. Despite her healthy lifestyle of eating well and exercising often, she experienced intense chest pain which sent her to the hospital in mid-November. There she suffered her first heart attack. A blockage in her artery was identified, and Barbara had surgery (angioplasty and stent placement). 8 days later, she had another heart attack. This time the doctors suspected deep vein thrombosis and gave her medication. While still recovering in the ICU, she had a third heart attack. The doctors diagnosed her with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and placed five additional stents.

 

 

Barbara (top right) in a video call with her sister, daughter, nephew, and nieces in the ICU

 

 

As of now, Barbara is currently in Zambia. Because her medical emergency has unfolded very rapidly and her condition is rare, she needs to be transferred for special treatment at a hospital outside of the country with more resources to handle her case. Arrangements are still being made to find out where and when, but she will be medevaced to either India, the UK, or the US as soon as she is deemed stable enough to fly. Some of her family, including her kids, will fly from the US to Zambia to travel with her.

 

 

Barbara with her kids for Christmas in 2018

 

Our family needs money to pay for the medevac, various flights, family accommodations and special medical treatments. About $20,000 has already been spent thus far, and the expenses are piling beyond our capacity. In particular, the international medevac costs upwards of $100,000.

 

 

Barbara (right) with her sister, nephews, and niece in 1995

 

Barbara is a single mother, a considerate sister, a loving aunt, and a reliable friend. She grew up in Lusaka, Zambia and moved to the US when she was 20. Her love for travel and adventure has taken her all over the world. She has hiked up Mt. Fuji in Japan, parasailed in the skies of Turkey, and dived to the ocean floor of Palau. Since her divorce, she has worked as a caretaker in the US, offering her kindness, compassion, and companionship to others while raising her teenage kids for many years.

 

 

Barbara scuba diving in California in 2021

 

To those who know her, she is a pillar of strength and support. For this very reason, she moved from the US to Zambia in the spring of 2021 to take care of her aging parents. She hoped to be home for Christmas.

 

Barbara is one of the most fiercely loyal people on earth. She has always been there when someone needed her. Now she needs help, and we hope that you will lend a hand. We ask that you keep Barbara and our family in prayer as we navigate this challenging time. We know she will be healed, and the resources to do this will be a tremendous gift to her.

 

 

Barbara at the Survivor finale in 2018

 

 

Barbara (right) with her niece , Chanshi, in San Diego a week before she went to Zambia

*Since Barbara will be staying with her niece, Chanshi, in California for the start of her recovery, she has asked Chanshi to manage the finances. The funds will be deposited into Chanshi's account (which Barbara has access to) and used for Barbara's medical and living expenses as they arise.