Preetesh's Medical Fundraiser
Donation protected
My ask: For my birthday this year, I am donating any celebration money towards Preetesh Patodi’s medical bills from a recent devastating accident. I am requesting your help to cover the $37,802 for his pre-surgery expenses (medical transport and brain scans). I am entirely aware that this is a large amount, but I am hopeful that we will be able to cover at least a fraction of the total to help Preetesh out. Without your help, Preetesh will be in over $150,000 of total debt as a 21-year-old student.
Background: Preetesh hails from Indore - a small town in India where his family owns and runs a bakery shop. Since a young age, Preetesh was passionate about technology and harbored a dream that he would study at one of the best computing schools in the United States. Preetesh didn’t have the financial support to study abroad, so he was ecstatic when he was approved for student loans and admitted to Indiana University (IU). Preetesh has made good grades during his three years at IU. He has also worked as a Resident Assistant (RA) to give back to his community and help cover some of his costs. I worked with Preetesh last year in his role as an RA and found that he was one of very few who had formed genuine friendships with his residents. He was an active advisor to student government and contributed in our efforts to win “Best Float” at IU’s homecoming parade. Preetesh was looking forward to starting his final year at IU and partaking in recruiting season this fall. Overall, Preetesh is no different than any one of us – a productive member of society who is working toward his dream of having a good education that results in a decent job.
The Accident: Preetesh went out to a party on September 7th to celebrate the start of his senior year at IU. At the end of the night, he decided to ride a Lime Scooter back to his residence hall. Preetesh has lost all memory of the events that occurred after he left for home that night. He was found by Woodlands, a campus dining hall, at around 2:30 in the morning by a stranger who called 911. He was taken to the Bloomington hospital only to be informed that the hospital did not have the resources or talent to handle the level of physical trauma that Preetesh had experienced. Preetesh was then transported an hour away to a hospital in Indianapolis where he underwent preliminary treatment and diagnosis. Preetesh lost 4-5 teeth during the accident and has 14 fractures on his face. He was unable to open his left eye completely. Until recently, Preetesh could not stand, walk, talk, or smile. He is at risk of being unable to complete his penultimate semester at IU and of missing the recruiting season entirely. As of May 2019, Preetesh’s student loan debts had already crossed the $100,000 mark. With his added medical expenses, he is close to $150,000 of total debt as of today.
Preetesh is scheduled for surgery on Monday, September 23rd. The money we are raising right now will go only towards his medical bills from the medical transport to Indianapolis and the diagnostic procedures carried out while there. Preetesh and his friends will be uploading receipts and payment confirmations for every dollar of the money you contribute. We will also make every effort to minimize Preetesh’s costs and are currently looking into cheaper alternatives. Some part of the $37,802 will be covered by Preetesh's insurance, although we do not know how much that will be as of now. Any money saved from your donations will go towards Preetesh’s surgery expenses, especially dental implants which are not covered by his insurance plan.
I would not be asking for your help if it weren’t absolutely necessary. It is unfortunate that we live in a world where a student wakes up to $150,000 of student debt after one night of celebrating the start of his final year of college. This serves as a reminder that you or your loved ones could be in the same position someday and I hope that you will donate to this cause and help Preetesh out.
Background: Preetesh hails from Indore - a small town in India where his family owns and runs a bakery shop. Since a young age, Preetesh was passionate about technology and harbored a dream that he would study at one of the best computing schools in the United States. Preetesh didn’t have the financial support to study abroad, so he was ecstatic when he was approved for student loans and admitted to Indiana University (IU). Preetesh has made good grades during his three years at IU. He has also worked as a Resident Assistant (RA) to give back to his community and help cover some of his costs. I worked with Preetesh last year in his role as an RA and found that he was one of very few who had formed genuine friendships with his residents. He was an active advisor to student government and contributed in our efforts to win “Best Float” at IU’s homecoming parade. Preetesh was looking forward to starting his final year at IU and partaking in recruiting season this fall. Overall, Preetesh is no different than any one of us – a productive member of society who is working toward his dream of having a good education that results in a decent job.
The Accident: Preetesh went out to a party on September 7th to celebrate the start of his senior year at IU. At the end of the night, he decided to ride a Lime Scooter back to his residence hall. Preetesh has lost all memory of the events that occurred after he left for home that night. He was found by Woodlands, a campus dining hall, at around 2:30 in the morning by a stranger who called 911. He was taken to the Bloomington hospital only to be informed that the hospital did not have the resources or talent to handle the level of physical trauma that Preetesh had experienced. Preetesh was then transported an hour away to a hospital in Indianapolis where he underwent preliminary treatment and diagnosis. Preetesh lost 4-5 teeth during the accident and has 14 fractures on his face. He was unable to open his left eye completely. Until recently, Preetesh could not stand, walk, talk, or smile. He is at risk of being unable to complete his penultimate semester at IU and of missing the recruiting season entirely. As of May 2019, Preetesh’s student loan debts had already crossed the $100,000 mark. With his added medical expenses, he is close to $150,000 of total debt as of today.
Preetesh is scheduled for surgery on Monday, September 23rd. The money we are raising right now will go only towards his medical bills from the medical transport to Indianapolis and the diagnostic procedures carried out while there. Preetesh and his friends will be uploading receipts and payment confirmations for every dollar of the money you contribute. We will also make every effort to minimize Preetesh’s costs and are currently looking into cheaper alternatives. Some part of the $37,802 will be covered by Preetesh's insurance, although we do not know how much that will be as of now. Any money saved from your donations will go towards Preetesh’s surgery expenses, especially dental implants which are not covered by his insurance plan.
I would not be asking for your help if it weren’t absolutely necessary. It is unfortunate that we live in a world where a student wakes up to $150,000 of student debt after one night of celebrating the start of his final year of college. This serves as a reminder that you or your loved ones could be in the same position someday and I hope that you will donate to this cause and help Preetesh out.
Organiser and beneficiary
Anushka Mansukhani
Organiser
Bloomington, IN
Preetesh Patodi
Beneficiary
