Please help Satyama for crucial spine surgery

On May 15th our beloved friend, sister and teacher to so many, Satyama Ratna Lasby, was in a severe bicycle accident just outside of her home.  At 40 kms/hr, the brakes failed, both, and as it was a steep hill going downwards, she chose to pull off to the side of the road and into a ditch instead of the chance of going onto the road and into oncoming traffic in busy Sri Thanu on the island of Koh Phangan.

The result was devastating for her body. The impact from the speed and decline into cement, rocks and trees had her back snapped, face and teeth broke through the handlebars and it impacted her collarbone, hands, and broke her ankle. She has had 10 stitches and now a scar on her mouth, much needed dental surgery, a front tooth implant is needed once fully healed in the bone. Now, after 7 weeks of recovering and a visit to Koh Samui for an MRI it is discovered she needs major surgery on her vertebrae to remove the ruptured T8 which is dislocated and now fusing to other vertebrae in the wrong way. She is lucky she is not paralyzed but if she keeps it as it, will have chronic pain in the back, walking difficulties and continued pressure on the already narrowing spinal canal. The longer she waits, the more difficult it will be for a specialist to do this toleoscopic assisted surgery.

She has no health insurance, but in Thailand the surgery alone on the spine is estimated to be between 1-2 million bht ( $30 to 60, 000) as it needs a team of surgeons, 6 hours and is risky. If she travels back to her home counmrty, Canada she will be able to do the operation on her national health care system, although there will be still be huge costs involved inc travel, rent in a country that she has not lived in for over a decade, post op support and rehabilitation costs. Aftewards she will not able to work and will need to recover again from invasive surgery. She has currently had one month of bedrest, not working, receiving treatments from fellow practitioners on the island like Ahma, Ben, Jasmine, Wolfheart and Lucky.

Satyama has been a yoga teacher for 21 years, a devout meditator, beloved teacher in many yoga teacher trainings on Koh Phangan and in Portugal. She left the system over 15 years ago in Canada to dedicate to natural and optimal balance and health, including spiritual development and loves to bring authenticity to her trainings as an offshoot to meditating. A lover of tantra as a path for healing first and greater awareness, full totality is what she lives for on the way to samhadhi. She is a respected, long term community member of Koh Phangan and those who try to make a difference.

By the looks of the severity of the accident in which she was almost paralyzed, she is learning a lot about slowing down and which steps to take for the rest of her (hopefully pain-free) life.

She needs financial support to pay for this surgery and to keep recovering after it. She has lost, possibly back flexibility and is in serious risk and pain if this surgery is not done immediately.

Satyama is truly an incedbible person. She has inspired thousands of students in her time as a teacher and guide on the yogic path. She lifts people up with her humour and and enthusiasm for life. Satyama is known for her full-power truth delivery, ability to promote openness in others, determination and her laugher. For the past eight years, she has lived and taught on Koh Phangan Thailand. Please give from your hearts at this time to support her. 

 For those who rather donate via paypal Satyamas paypal is satyama@satyama.ca