UK Malayali Community Raises £18,650 in One Day for Stroke-Affected Nurse Divya Mathew
Stoke-on-Trent: In an overwhelming display of compassion and unity, the UK Malayali community has come together to raise £18,650 for Divya Mathew, a nurse from Stoke-on-Trent who suffered a severe stroke that left her bedridden. What began as a one-day appeal that aimed to collect £10,000 exceeded all expectations, reflecting the deep generosity of the community.
A total of £13,815 was received through the KindLink platform, along with £2,562 in Gift Aid and £2,754 through direct bank transfers. After deducting £483 as KindLink’s processing fee, the remaining amount was topped up from the general fund, bringing the total to £18,650, which will be handed over to Divya.
Divya, who worked as a nurse at the Royal Stoke University Hospital’s Cancer Ward, suffered a stroke on August 15, 2024, which left one side of her body paralyzed. Since then, she has been wheelchair-bound and unable to work. Her NHS employer had to revoke her work permit, forcing her and her family to prepare for a return to India.
The situation has been particularly distressing as Divya’s family is already burdened with a home loan of around ₹30 lakhs in India, along with ongoing medical expenses. Her husband, Sinoj, works at a DHL warehouse but often has to miss work to care for Divya. The couple also has a son studying in Year 7.
As Divya has not been able to work for over a year, her sick pay ended earlier this year, and her Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) has also expired. Returning home for continued treatment is now their only option. Due to her condition, she will require three adjoining seats on the flight to accommodate her wheelchair needs, significantly increasing travel costs.
While the Indian Embassy’s intervention could help, procedural delays have made community support the quickest and most effective solution. Local organizations, including the Stoke Malayali Association (SMA), stepped in immediately to coordinate the appeal, ensuring that funds were raised within hours.
“Once again, the kindness of UK Malayalis has shone brightly,” said one of the coordinators. “When one among us suffers, everyone steps forward to help — that is the true spirit of our community.”
Divya and her family have expressed their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed. “Words can’t express how thankful we are. This support gives us hope as we begin the next chapter of our journey back home,” the family said.
At 42 years old, Divya remains hopeful that with continued treatment in India, she will regain strength and return to a normal life.