Support Sara's Small but Mighty family

Imagine having COVID, severe high blood pressure, a stroke, and a C-section all within one week. This is precisely the horrific ordeal that Sara and Bala endured during Sara's second trimester while expecting their first child who was due March 2024. Sara was only five months into her pregnancy when what started as a COVID infection quickly compounded with uncontrollable high blood pressure and seizures as a result of severe preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication that occurs when the placenta does not form normally and results in high blood pressure in the mother, which can, in some cases, progress to multiple organ failure including the failure of the liver and the kidneys and even death.

Upon realizing the gravity of her condition, the doctors at her community hospital quickly prepared her to be transported to Sunnybrook Hospital where she could receive treatment from specialists in high-risk pregnancies. It was there that the couple received the devastating news that Sara had suffered a stroke and that her preeclampsia was so severe as to justify an emergency C-section delivery to save her life.

Sara gave birth to a premature baby boy in December 2023, four months before her due date. The baby continues to fight to survive each day in the NICU till date. The exact date when he will be released from the NICU is yet to be determined and is heavily dependent on his growth and physical development during this time. For privacy reasons, details about the baby are not shared here.

Meanwhile, Sara was discharged approximately a week after her C-section where her blood pressure was deemed to be manageable with medication. The full recovery from preeclampsia can take months, let alone recovering from a C-section, and the psychological toll of having gone through a life-threatening medical condition with long-term consequences that are still unraveling. Sara's mother, Malar (a Sri Lankan national), took the next flight to Toronto to care for her daughter. However, just as things began to somewhat settle, Malar suffered a stroke in January 2024, within mere weeks of her arrival. Suddenly, Sara found herself tag-teaming with Bala between staying with her mother at the local hospital as she received treatment and driving to Sunnybrook Hospital NICU for their time with their baby.

Not only was it Malar's first time experiencing a Canadian winter, but English is also not her first language and so the language barrier makes it challenging for her to navigate the Canadian healthcare system on her own. With her unhealed C-section scars and volatile blood pressure, Sara was there for her sick mother, accompanying her in the ambulance while she was rushed between hospitals, caring for her once she was discharged, attending all the specialist referral appointments she needed as part of the after care for her stroke. But because Malar is not a Canadian national, Sara and Bala incurred a major financial loss in funding Malar's medical bills which amounted to CAD 20,000 and needed to be paid upfront. This money was what they had saved to help them during Sara's maternity leave. The travel insurance company listed with Malar's visa are demanding Malar's medical history with lab reports dating back years and are denying claims thus far and the fight with them continues.

Sara and Bala are finding it difficult to stay afloat with basic financial commitments at the moment, and this will be particularly stressful once the baby is discharged home, especially if he requires additional medical care.

Sara is one of the most responsible, caring, and kind people I have ever met and she absolutely deserves better than the devastating circumstances that have come her way. We are hoping to raise up to $20,000 equivalent to the savings that they need to stay afloat during this difficult period and once their baby comes home. Please donate and share with your network to help us reach our goal.