Kundan Bhattarai, a 20-year-old Northlake College student, fainted on March 18 in a grocery store and was taken to the Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. [break]
Doctors say he went into cardiac arrest, had both lung and kidney failure, and incurred some brain damage. Kundan was in the ICU for 11 days. Now, he´s in the process of recovering. NSA president Ashish Kunwar said his group ushered in a new year with a good cause in mind.
Bharat Mani Bhattarai, Kundan´s cousin and a UTA alumnus, speaks on Kundan´s behalf online. In blogs and on one Nepali community Web site, Bharat is asking for donations to cover a $6,000 hospital bill.
According to Hamro Aawaz´s news Web site, contributors have made 145 donations totaling $3,565.89, as of Thursday. Bharat said he´s collected $2,800 from friends, but each doctor visit costs $850. Total medical costs could reach $200,000, he said.
Kundan was discharged about two weeks ago from the hospital and has short term memory loss. He is conscious, Bharat said.
Kundan said he doesn´t remember what happened after he collapsed.
"I am weak and can´t walk far," he said. "I have a little bit chest pain. Doctors told me that pain will go away in one or two months. I want to continue my education. I will complete my remaining course work of spring semester in summer."
Kundan was going to school to become a civil engineer.
Bharat said his cousin needs about $5,000 to cover medical expenses for two months.
Bharat said Kundan´s father is on the lower end of the middle class in Nepal, and doesn´t have the finances to cover medical charges. Kundan doesn´t have insurance coverage, Bharat added.
"He has medication bills right now to pay and I am looking for a couple of months´ expenses for grocery and other bills to pay," Bharat said. People can donate money to Kundan through Bharat´s blog using PayPal.
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