Bandna Bhatti, a 2021 graduate of Central Valley High School who was nearing graduation from UC Berkeley, remains paralyzed from the waist down after a fall from a metal staircase at a fraternity house.
The 21-year-old Ceres native has been hospitalized at Highland Hospital in Oakland since she sustained devastating spinal injuries on April 19, just weeks before her planned graduation. Bhatti was working toward a degree in data science.
“She cannot walk, she cannot move her body,» her mother Sukh Bhatti told KTVU in Oakland.
Bhatti reportedly slipped off an exterior staircase at the Phi Kappa Tau frat house on Piedmont Avenue and fell 12 feet and striking her head. Bhatti, who was suffering from a bleeding brain, broken bones and spinal injuries, wasn’t discovered for about 15 minutes, her family said. When she was brought inside the fraternity by friends, others told her to get her out, the family reported. Instead of calling 911, friends transported her to her apartment nearby. It wasn’t until about seven hours later that somebody finally decided to call for an ambulance.
Matt Arnold, CEO of the national Phi Kappa Tau organization, told Bay Area reporters that he is “deeply concerned” by what happened and is cooperating with Berkeley Police investigators.
“Our thoughts are with the individual and their loved ones during this challenging time,” said Arnold in a media statement. “The health, safety and well-being of all individuals in our community remain our highest priorities.”
Bhatti’s sister, Sonya Bhatti has launched a gofundme account (https://www.gofundme.com/f/bandnas-bounce-back-begins) seeking $450,000 and had received pledges of $101,260 as of Monday. The account read: “In addition to a spinal fracture, Bandna also sustained severe injuries, including tearing of the dura with spinal fluid leakage, a scapular fracture, and a brain hematoma. She is currently hospitalized. These injuries are not only life-altering but will require extensive and ongoing medical care, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, and specialized support to help her navigate this new chapter.
“The journey ahead is extensive and demanding, but with your assistance, we hope to provide the vital resources she requires, specialized care, adaptive equipment, and essential home modifications to help Bandna regain as much independence as possible.
“Bandna is a brilliant, compassionate, and resilient young woman who has worked tirelessly toward her dreams. Now, she faces a long and difficult road ahead, and we are humbly asking our community for help.”
Friends of the injured woman ran a half marathon on Sunday in her honor with funds going toward expenses.
Bhatti’s mother told KTVU “She will walk. I will make sure she walks. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Bhatti was pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Data Science with an emphasis in Business and Industrial Analytics when the accident interrupted her life. She most recently was a product growth analyst for Voodies.
During her years at Central Valley High School, Bhatti excelled at sports, including tennis.
