Help Needed: F1 student who is in medical help

My brother Suresh Penchala (Photos Attached) who is in COMA since Aug 14 at ERLANGER HOSPITAL, Chattanooga, TN after he met with a very fatal…

My brother Suresh Penchala (Photos Attached) who is in COMA since Aug 14 at ERLANGER HOSPITAL, Chattanooga, TN after he met with a very fatal Accident.


Suresh Penchala (From Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh , India ) is a student at Eastern Illinois University (F1 visa) pursuing his masters in Computers and supposed to graduate in December. During summer semester while enrolled in 2 on-line courses he visited India and does not have the worst feared Insurance. He returned back from India on 13 of August and headed for his college along with his friend NISHANT ETALA on 14th August at around 9:30 PM from Atlanta to E.I.U, Charleston , IL in 97 model Toyota RAV4. He was supposed to stop in Nashville for the night and again drive to Illinois the next day.


At around 11:30 (before mid-night), On I-75 just after exit-353 border of Georgia and Tennessee , they met with a major accident. An 18 wheeler ran into them. Unfortunately Nishant Etala passed away at the accident scene and Suresh Penchala has been admitted in ERLANGER HOSPITAL with serious injuries. He was not in a position to survive when he was flown to hospital with following injuries:


Both Lungs Collapsed/ Punctured.
Lacerations on his head.
Broken right collar bone.
Broken right shoulder.
Fractured C4 spine.
Completely broken rib-cage (fractured to an inch)
Laceration to his spleen.
Liver damaged.
Broken hip.
broken left arm.
broken right ankle.
Anoxic/Hypoxic injuries to his Brain. — Major ( Lack of oxygen to brain due to initial blood loss and lack of breathing ability)


Thanks to God, Doctors and Nurses at ERLANGER hospital who has worked really hard for 3hrs pumping 10 bottles of blood, opening his belly and sewing the flowing blood stream to save his life. He has remained in COMA since.


He needs continuous medical attention but Erlanger hospital has said that there is not much they can do at this time. Doctors mentioned that he has substantial damage to his brain and time would only tell us what would happen to him. At the same time as there is no treatment being done to him, they say that they cannot keep him in the hospital and as he is not responding, he cannot go to a Rehabilitation center and would have to go to a Skilled Nursing Facility. Unfortunately as he does not have insurance no nursing facility is willing to take him.


Hospital has asked me to take him home and my family lacks the expertise which the nurses at skilled nursing facility would provide in keeping my brother stable and keep him alive. Nursing homes would cost around $500 to $1000 per day which I cannot afford. (To get him into a nursing home I need to pay a month’s advance) and no Nursing Home or Hospital is coming forward to take Suresh.


While thinking of taking him to India we inquired about transportation costs. As he had chest tubes it is not medically safe for him to travel in a commercial flight until next 3 months and if he were to be transported then an air ambulance would have to fly him which would cost around $100,000 to $180,000.   However, I am not even sure whether air ambulance would be able to transport him given his medical condition.


My self (Ramesh Penchala), my DAD and Mom are here in Chattanooga with my brother. We are very depressed, emotionally disturbed but did not loose faith in God. We are determined to save Suresh. We are asking for help from each one of you to come forward and donate towards this noble cause, keeping in mind that your contribution (however small it is) would go a long way in his treatment.


No amount is little and no amount is huge at this situation so I humbly beg/request all to please try to help my brother and my family get through these tough situation Praying for my brother and donating how much ever possible by you to save a life.


Visit this website for more details. http://www.help-suresh.org/


Thanks In Advance for the Generosity,
Ramesh Penchala & Family.
404-422-4583( Mobile )


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