My dear friend Karabeth Burton, who I am traveling in India with, was struck down by a speeding motorcycle last Thursday. She is currently in the Intensive Care Unit of Bombay Hospital in Mumbai.
We had just spent three days volunteering at a daycare centre in a small suburb of Mumbai called Badlapur, approximately three hours by car from Mumbai. The day they were leaving to return to Mumbai they were crossing the street when suddenly a speeding motorcycle hit Karabeth head-on. She was immediately rushed by ambulance to Bombay Hospital in Mumbai where a CT scan revealed swelling of the brain and slight bleeding. She also has three fractures in her right leg and left arm.
Four days have now passed and she is recovering slowly but surely. She is responding well to the doctors and her friend, she is speaking well, drinking juice and has started eating again. The doctors are still wary that she is not out of danger yet and she has been complaining of a headache for more than 24 hours now. They are closely monitoring her.
When the swelling in her brain returns to normal, they will begin surgeries on her right leg, which will require a brace, and left arm, which for the time being is set in a plaster cast.
The doctors estimate that her hospital bills may escalate to between $10,000 and $15,000 US if there are no complications. Karabeth does not have this money. It is a tremendous financial burden for her. I and my family are doing as much as we can for her.
We are appealing to anyone who knows Karabeth, all Guest English Teachers in Korea, and any friends or family in the US or Canada to help her with these costs. As foreign teachers in Korea, we are all alone without our families and closest friends from back home. We have formed new family relationships with each other and in reality, this could happen to any one of us not only on vacation but right in Korea as well.
Karabeth is a kind and generous person, always ready to lend a hand and help financially whomever she can. When I was starting a new job and living close to her in Jungri, she knew I would only get my first salary after one month of working, so she immediately lent me some money to get me through to my first pay cheque. She has helped so many people in this manner, with an open heart full of love. We believe if everyone pitches in, her hospital bills can be paid without placing her in tremendous debt.
All those in Korea may transfer their donation directly into Karabeth Burton's bank account, which is accessible to her in India. The bank is NongHyup and the account number is: 3020-498-564-541.
Those in the United States or Canada may do an international bank transfer to Standard Chartered Bank in Mumbai. Those bank details will be posted tomorrow after they are finalized.
Karabeth is a very honorable person and does not ask for help easily. I know she will be deeply touched by whatever anybody donates.
Thank you so much for your help.
-Sunil Mahtani (Canadian from Montreal living in Changwon)