By Vanessa Ybarra

Donations pour in for Kamloops woman requiring emergency brain surgery

Jan 12, 2017 | 11:07 AM

KAMLOOPS — Money donations continue to pour in for a Kamloops woman who required emergency care on New Year’s Eve.

Fernanda Kowalski was celebrating the new year with her husband Joe in Vancouver when she suddenly suffered a brain AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation), similar to an aneurysm.

The 35-year-old, who is currently six months pregnant, underwent emergency brain surgery at Vancouver General Hospital, where she remains in serious but stable condition.

Friend Corra Gasner has since set up a GoFundMe page to help the couple, with donations nearing $13-thousand.

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“I wanted to be able to help him in any way, but even just saying ‘I can help you if you need it’ what does that even mean?” said Gasner. “The Go-Fund-Me campaign just seemed like the right thing to do. It was pretty incredible, within the first 24-hours we almost reached our first goal of $10-thousand.”

A large portion of the money will go towards flying Fernanda’s family out from Brazil.

Joe Kowalski says the support has been overwhelming.

“It’s not just people from Kamloops it’s from various people from around the world,” said Kowalski. “The outpouring of support and the the generosity of people when someone is in a time of need, it’s just amazing, it blows my mind.”

To donate to Fernanda’s cause, click here.