Public Institution "Rūta and Danas Gaškauskai" Support Fund
At this difficult time, any support means a great deal to us.
Our Families Tragedy
On 16 November 2025, at 14:45, just a few hundred metres from Švenčionys, where our parents live, our family’s life was turned upside down. Our dad Danas and mum Rūta were involved in a serious accident – a car crash on Road 102, just past the turnoff to Modžiūnai. Due to a health episode, dad lost orientation, the car drifted into the oncoming lane, went into the ditch and hit the embankment of a driveway. The impact acted like a ramp, the car was thrown into the air and rolled over.
At that moment, it felt as if everything collapsed – our peace, our sense of safety, our family’s everyday life. Our 3-year-old little dog Luna also died in the accident and she was a true member of our family.
Who are we
We are their children, a son and a daughter. Our parents, Danas (born 1968) and Rūta (born 1973), have always been modest, hard-working, warm people. Dad found work in construction as a helper and materials supplier. Mum was building her cozy confectionery businessŠmiki šmaki(on Facebook); by baking cakes for celebrations she brought joy to the whole town and adorned the most beautiful occasions in our community.
Since 2016, our family has had to fight every day against our dad’s brain cancer. All of our parents’ remaining income went towards his treatment, so they were never able to build up any savings. Despite this, they both kept working, took care of our mum’s mother (our grandmother), and helped anyone who needed it — but now is the time when they themselves need help.
Mother’s condition
Our mother is being treated at RVUL Lazdynai Hospital, in the Intensive Care Unit. Her condition is very serious:
- Both lungs are perforated, requiring drainage on both sides. There is severe lung contusion.
- Multiple fractures of all ribs on both sides.
- A comminuted fracture of the sternum. The chest cage is completely crushed.
- “Flail chest” – a dangerous, unstable condition of the chest.
- Fractures of the left arm’s humerus, radius and ulna – operated.
- Fractures of the T12 and L1 vertebrae.
Mother is being kept in a medically induced coma to support her breathing function.
Prognosis:
- Short-term: her condition is severe but can be stabilised.
- Long-term: a long rehabilitation awaits, but a better recovery is possible compared to our father.
Father’s condition
Our father is being treated at RVUL Lazdynai Hospital, in the Intensive Care Unit. The injuries he has sustained are extremely severe:
- An unstable fracture of the cervical spine at C5–C6 with spinal cord damage.
- Several brain haemorrhages.
- Bilateral rib fractures.
- Multiple spinal fractures (T7, T12, L1–L5). A fragment of the L3 vertebra has entered the spinal canal.
- Fracture of the shoulder blade (scapula).
- Respiratory function is practically non-functional.
Dad is in a coma, connected to a ventilator. His consciousness has not returned since the accident.
Prognosis:
- Short-term: critical, life-threatening condition.
- Long-term: severe disability is highly likely, with the possibility of lifelong disability.
Luna is the heart of our family.
Luna, a mixed-breed dog just 3 years old, was our parents’ pride and the warmth of the home. She came into our lives after the loss of our previous family dog and brought our home back together. Losing her is deeply painful – she was our joy, our therapy, our peace.
Financial reality
Our parents have no savings. For many years, all of their money has gone towards Dad’s treatment.
They have no loans or leasing contracts, but there are many day-to-day financial obligations. The family car was only insured with third-party liability, so the damage will not be compensated, and unfortunately our parents also did not have life insurance.
My sister and I now have to:
- look after their home,
- take care of our grandmother and two cats,
- drive 100 km back and forth every day,
- handle the paperwork,
- communicate with the doctors,
- pay for utilities and telecommunications,
- juggle our work with this crisis.
We are the only ones
We alone will have to cover:
- our parents’ long-term rehabilitation,
- nursing care,
- adapting the home for their disabilities,
- medical supplies and equipment,
- travel and additional expenses,
- all household running costs.
Why we created the Support Fund
Our parents are now fighting for their lives. My sister and I are doing everything we possibly can, but on our own we will not be able to carry this burden.
That is why we founded the Public Institution “Rūta and Danas Gaškauskas Support Fund”– so that we can collect support for our parents’ treatment and care in a transparent and lawful way.
The funds raised will be used for:
- their rehabilitation,
- nursing care,
- adapting the home,
- medical expenses,
- necessary travel and paperwork,
- daily needs,
- household expenses,
- urgent financial needs.
Why we need help now
This tragedy is not just about a car accident. It’s about a family that has been fighting cancer for almost a decade and now, in a single second, has found itself in an even more difficult situation.
My sister and I are afraid. We are afraid for our parents’ lives, for possible complications, and for whether we will be able to keep their home and ensure they receive the care they need.
We believe in people’s kindness and that with your help, we can bring our parents back home – to a place adapted to their needs.
If you can, please share this story.
Every contribution, every kind word or prayer means more to us than we can express.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for being here.