EDIT: thank you so much for enormous support shown to Aarvi and her family. We are so excited to share that after many conversations and much waiting, the family’s international medical insurance has covered the medical bills for Aarvi's initial stays in hospital. What a huge relief.

This Go Fund Me will continue to operate with the intention of raising vital support for the family to cover costs of ongoing medical bills such therapies such as speech therapy and occupational therapy that the family cannot access under Medicare, and other costs such as visas to allow Aarvi to continue to stay in Australia in order to seek the best medical care for her diagnosis.

Our beautiful friend Pema recently gave birth to her gorgeous baby girl Aarvi. Aarvi is such a blessing to her family and deeply loved. Aarvi was born prematurely and shortly after she was born she was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Aarvi will require heart surgery within the next few weeks.

Pema, Rabin and their family are doing the most wonderful job of caring for Aarvi and ensuring she gets all the support she needs. However, this support is expensive, and the initial two hospital stays have led to a medical bill of over $60 000. This is the beginning of the medical expenses for Aarvi's care. The family immigrated to Australia on an international student visa which means they have limited options for financial assistance and no access to Medicare.

Pema is studying a Masters of Social Work at ACAP College and undertaking an unpaid student placement. Rabin works at Aldi in Roselands. However, the upcoming surgery will require both parents to be bedside for Aarvi on her journey to recovery. This will place further financial burden on the family.

We are asking people to consider donating towards the medical bills for Aarvi. Even if you can only give a dollar, every dollar will make a difference. Please share this page with your friends and family too.