Help Sandra

At first I was not sure if I should share this with you. But ever since I got a phone call from a friend I cannot stop thinking about a girl who I have met a few times.

Her name is Sandra and she is 22 years old (03.08.1988). I know that she is a very compassionate, optimistic and open-minded girl. She likes to sing, draw, enjoys cooking and experimenting with new recipes. This year she was supposed to graduate from Daugavpils University (in Latvia) as an art teacher. To help out her family financially and pay for her studies, Sandra studied during the day and worked as a waitress at night and on the weekends. She had very little free time and very little rest, although, she kept telling her parents that “It’s ok and I will graduate soon and then things will be different.”

Unfortunately, this is not a typical Christmas happy-ending, motivational story…

On the 2nd of November Sandra’s co-workers heard the sound of dishes breaking in the kitchen. They found Sandra lying on the floor, unconscious. Sandra was hospitalized in Riga (my home town), where she was diagnosed with a cerebral ischemic stroke.

Right now she is in the Hospital of Kraslava in a coma and her life depends on a life support machine, because she cannot breathe by herself. Both Sandra’s parents work as hard as they can, but their salary can hardly cover regular bills, let alone hospital treatment and rehabilitation.

The family’s life savings are quickly running out and if nothing gets done, soon the girl will have to be disconnected from her life support machine and will die. The saddest thing is that in the past month after a short course of rehabilitation that was given to her, Sandra started to show noticeable health improvements (weak reaction to outside stimuli and finger movements). The doctors are sure that after a 3 to 6-month medical treatment course and rehabilitation Sandra will be able to return to normal life.

Unfortunately, Sandra’s family can hardly afford to pay for her stay in the hospital, not to mention the necessary, but costly medical treatment. Desperate, they are looking for any possibility to save their only daughter’s life.

I know that every single person at least once in their life wanted to help a real person, not just donate money to “the poor” or “the starving”.

Today, if you have the possibility, I ask you to click here and make a donation to save the life of one young girl, who deserves a chance to live and make her dreams come true.

Sandra’s treatment costs $65 a day – $ 11.960 for 6 months. This is the amount of money that 10 people spend a day on a cocktail or a movie ticket. The same amount of money that can make a difference between life and death.

Almost daily I pray to have an opportunity to help other people and make a difference in someone else’s life. This is my opportunity… and if you are reading these words it could be your opportunity as well.

I personally guarantee that all the money to the last penny that you donate for Sandra’s treatment will be transferred to her parents. I will provide account screen shots and regular updates on Sandra’s health progress.

Sandra’s story is not a typical inspirational Christmas happy-ending story, but it can turn into one!

Click here to help one real girl:

Please help to spread a word and share this post with your friends and family!

UPDATE 20-12-2010: Sandra can swallow now! That means that she is even able to eat some food by herself. Doctors are saying she’s showing a remarkable progress.

UPDATE 24-12-2010: We raised $1404 so far and that’s an amazing start! Thank you so much!

UPDATE 12-12-2011: Sandra is almost fully recovered! She regained her motor skills, language ability and is already making plans about continuing her studies. $1723 were raised!  All of the money went towards paying for Sandra’s medical bills and a 4-week rehabilitation course.

Thank you to everyone who made this miracle possible!

Tags: Sandra