SAVED FROM THE UNDERTOW: Help Nawfal after his accident!

SAVED FROM THE UNDERTOW: Nawfal has had a terrible motorcycle accident 8 months ago. The bones in his lower leg were so badly broken that amputation was considered. He found doctors that were able to save the leg, but his family dairy business is in jeopardy - the cows need food. The good news is that he's a month away from walking and returning again to the business. He and his family needs help now!

BACKSTORY:

My name is Andy, and I met Nawfal in May of 2012 on a trip to India. We've been friends ever since.

I was traveling solo in Kerala, India and I decided to take a walk by myself off the resort where I was staying. I had wanted to swim in the Indian Ocean for the first time, but was warned about the undertow. Standing on the beach, I saw the powerful waves crashing on the steep sand beach, and all the water pulling the churned sand back into the ocean. I knew it wasn't really safe.

Surveying the beach that seemed to go forever into the horizon, way way way far away, I saw a large group of people on the beach. I could see some buoys in the water - and it looked like someplace were people might be going into the water. It was 120 degrees out in the late morning, but I decided to start walking in that direction. The resort security came up to warn me that I was leaving the resort and that it might not be safe. It was OK, I said. It was time for me to join the world.

The walk was forever. The distance to the group was at least 2 miles, but little by little I made my way. As I got to the edge, I could tell it was a few hundred people, and mostly families all out to enjoy the breeze, waves, and slightly cooler air blowing in from the sea. And, eventually I encountered a group of young men in their late teens or early 20s. They were having a ball diving into the waves. They asked me to jump into the ocean with them, and a couple of them spoke English.

I said I was worried about leaving my backpack on the beach while in the water, and one of them said not to worry - they'd guard it for me. I looked into his eyes, and my heart said to trust. So I did. He introduced himself - Nawfal. 

It was pure joy. And, as predicted, the undertow was super strong, and at least twice, Nawfal literally saved me from being dragged out to sea. It wasn't scary at all. It was just smiles and laughs.

He was on Facebook, so I did a friend request and we've been friends ever since. We tried for a while to figure out a way to do spice sales online, as Kerala is literally the land of spices. It didn't work out, but over the years, Nawfal got married, they had a kid, and they started a dairy business. We've kept in touch ever since through Facebook.

I was thinking that I hadn't heard from Nawfal in a while, and of course I got a FB Messenger message shortly after. Cause that's how these connections work. He told me he was in a terrible bind. He had been laid up for the past 8 months after a motorcycle accident that nearly cost him his leg. He was originally told it needed to be amputated, but then found a doctor who found a way to set the bones to grow back after being basically crushed and destroyed. He sent a picture, and it was shocking.

He told me that while he has a few employees, he's been unable to keep up with the expenses on 11 dairy cows. They eat alot, and it costs money to make money. And, now his outlook was to be able to be walking again in about a month. But, he was being sucked into the financial undertow. He needed help. My mind was taken back to that day when we met, and I realized I had to find a way to help him - but I didn't have the resources myself. He estimated he needed about 1 lakh rupees, which for non-Indians is 100,000 rupees. It sounds like alot, and it is.

But, since that time, the US Dollar buys more rupees than when I was there in 2012. He needs about $1500 to bridge the gap until he can literally get back onto his feet. I have created this gofundme campaign to help him keep his dairy farm so that he can continue to remain independent for his wife and child. I am asking anyone who can donate anything, even just a dollar (which is worth about 85 rupees at the time of this post) to contribute. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this story and consider helping my friend, Nawfal and his family.