Atlanta man creates fundraising campaign for Serbian mom who survived a seven year coma

ajc.com

Credit: Nedra Rhone

Credit: Nedra Rhone

An Atlanta man has started a GoFundMe page to help a woman who has emerged from a seven-year coma .

Gordon Nikic of Lawrenceville, created the campaign for Daniela Kovacevic of Serbia, who spent the last several years in a coma after getting sepsis during childbirth in 2010.

Shortly after her daughter was born, Kovacevic's heart stopped beating and she fell into a vegetative state. People around the world have followed the story and Kovacevic's progress, but it wasn't until the Daily Mail published a story about her that interest was reignited.

The story documents Kovacevic's plight as the one of the longest-surviving coma patients in the world who finally met her now seven-year-old daughter when she emerged from the coma. Her daughter, who has been raised by her grandparents, kept vigil by her mother's bedside over the years.

For three months, Kovacevic has been undergoing rehabilitation at a German clinic but her family does not have the money to continue with her care which they estimate to cost about 50,000 euros. Her father said her recoveries are minor, but they amount to much more than they have seen in the past. He said his daughter has shown more life and emotion and she is gaining weight.

Nikic doesn't know Kovacevic and her family personally, but he started the GoFundMe page on March 1 because he wanted to help. The Daily Mail story about Kovacevic included a link to his GoFundMe page and suddenly things took off.

So far, Nikic has helped raise more than $2,000 of his $50,000 goal to help Kovacevic recover.