A mixed-race 78-year-old Chinese-Ukrainian woman named Lilia Avoutova is battling for her life in a Kunming, China hospital. She is currently in an induced coma after having a cerebral hemorrhage and later stroke. Now, a medical emergency has upended her family’s happy reunion plans. They had been hoping for this rare trip to her birthplace in Xinjiang, an autonomous territory in northwest China.
On March 8, Lilia’s family got the heart-wrenching call that she went into cardiac arrest and she would be receiving immediate medical attention. They are absolutely facing a challenging hill to climb. Without travel medical insurance to cover the skyrocketing costs of her care, they need to figure out how to get her back to Canada. In China, the ICU is about $1,000/day. This cost creates a significant financial strain on families.
Elena Lanteigne, Lilia’s daughter, has led the way in raising money to bring her mother home. The air ambulance they’ll need for Lilia will cost well over $400,000. There is an alternative option available: using a stretcher service on a commercial airline, which would reduce the cost to around $108,800.
Elena expressed her feelings about the fundraising effort, stating, “It seems really awkward, asking people for money, asking strangers for help.” While she’s been surprised by how much the situation has made her uncomfortable, she’s surprised to find a fierce response from her community. A GoFundMe page has been created to help cover the costs that has raised more than $16,000 as of Monday.
I’m just blown away. During the call, Elena spoke candidly about her shock and surprise at the overwhelming number of people who showed an immediate willingness to help. She was indeed touched by this remarkable outpouring of support. She stressed again how heartwarming it is to see that kindness as St. John’s has gone through a tough time.
Artist Lilia Avoutova spent her early years in China. Her family soon suffered when the government seized their family farm. They moved first to Kazakhstan, where Lilia got married and started her family, before emigrating to Canada about 30 years ago. Over the last few years, she reconnected with her extended family in China. She made arrangements for what she assumed would be her last trip to her hometown.
The family had pictured a beautiful homecoming celebration, full of restored health and happy memories. Instead, they are today facing their first fall with uncertainty about Lilia’s health. In her own way, Lilia has already taken a step that bodes well. She did open her eyes momentarily and wiggle her fingers, but she is still in very critical condition.
Elena’s family doctor has told her family to hold off. They need to wait at least one to two months before moving Lilia. This recommendation is intended to provide time for the bleeding inside her uterus to reabsorb and stabilize.
“It’s really tough to see your loved one in a hospital bed and intubated with all these instruments around them, and not knowing how they’re doing and if they’re going to survive and if they’re going to do well,” Elena reflected on the emotional toll of the situation.
For the family, it’s a confusing and painful journey. So all they can do is hope that Lilia will pull through so she can go back home as safely as possible. They’re still struggling to gain support from friends, family, and even strangers during this difficult period.
