Hi,

My name is Ravishan Gunasekara, and I’m originally from Sri Lanka. I moved to Canada, hoping to build a more stable future for our family back home.

Today, I am reaching out for help for my father, Upali Gunasekara, who is in Sri Lanka. In the midst of the devastation caused by Cyclone Dithwa, my father suffered a heart attack. Doctors have confirmed that he urgently needs a heart stent surgery with a drug-coated balloon procedure.

My father is a retired government servant with no private health insurance or savings to cover such life-saving treatment. Throughout his life, he was the breadwinner for our family, and even after retirement, he remained deeply committed to serving our community in Dikkiriya, Aluvihare.

Recently, he played a leading role in organizing our village to repair a long-neglected road and successfully secured the government’s support. At home, he has been the full-time caregiver for my chronically ill mother. Despite his strength and active lifestyle, this sudden heart attack has left him extremely vulnerable.

Why We Must Turn to Private Hospitals

In Sri Lanka, only a handful of government hospitals perform heart surgeries, and the waiting lists are extremely long. Following the economic crisis in 2022 and now the destruction from Cyclone Dithwa, the public healthcare system is overwhelmed.

Because of this, waiting for a government hospital slot is too risky, and we cannot afford to lose precious time. A private hospital is the only viable way to get him the urgent surgery he needs.

How You Can Help

Your support can quite literally save my father’s life.

Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to giving him another chance.