Help sought for funeral expenses of Nalgonda student declared brain dead in US

Priyanka, a meritorious student, had gone to the United States in 2023 to pursue higher education. A recent graduate of the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH), she had also completed her master’s degree.

Nalgonda: The family of Priyanka Kondi, a resident of Pandepally village near Kattangur mandal, is shattered after learning that she was declared brain dead in the United States.

Priyanka, a meritorious student, had gone to the United States in 2023 to pursue higher education. A recent graduate of the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH), she had also completed her master’s degree. She was on Optional Practical Training and searching for a job to help her family and repay the loan secured for education.

However, all those dreams were shattered on May 5, when Priyanka was rushed to the Huntsville Emergency Room where she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), a rare form of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow.

With her health deteriorating, she was shifted to UAB Hospital, Alabama. Unfortunately, her brain suffered severe internal bleeding and lost consciousness. After continuing the treatment, the doctors declared her brain dead on May 7.

After learning about Priyanka’s condition, her father Venkat Reddy and family members are unable to come to terms and are grieving inconsolably.

A fund raising initiative has been launched by Priyanka’s family, friends and Harvinder Reddy Vangala through gofundme.com. The donation would help in covering the costs of transportation so that she can be laid to rest in her hometown.

It would also help in repayment of her education loan, which her family cannot bear. The family members are dependent on farming and eke out their livelihood, said Harvinder Reddy, who posted Priyanka’s story for the campaign on gofundme.com.