Yarlagadda Rajyalakshmi, 23, aspired not only to live the American dream, but also to provide for her family back home in Karamshedu, Bapatla district in Andhra Pradesh. This dream ended suddenly on Friday when she died in her sleep in an apartment she shared with her friends in Texas.
According to her family, she had been ill, suffering from a severe cough and chest pain, over the past few days, and requested an appointment with the doctor.
Raji, as her family and cousins affectionately called her, had recently completed her master’s degree in computer science from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and was looking for a job. A relative said she went to the US to pursue her master’s degree after completing her bachelor’s degree in technology from Godlavaleru College in Krishna district.
“On November 6, she spoke to her parents. She stated that she was suffering from a severe cough and cold. She made a doctor’s appointment on November 9. On Friday night, she went to sleep after having dinner with her friends. The next morning, when she did not wake up despite the alarm going off, her friends checked on her and found her unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital,” her relative said.
Her cousins and friends set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to return the body to her home once the autopsy is complete. As of November 10, $125,185 has been raised.
Raji’s cousin, Y Chaitanya, who resides in Denton, Texas, wrote on the fund’s page: “With heavy hearts, we share the sudden passing of our younger cousin, Rajyalakshmi Yarlagadda (known as Raji). A recent graduate of Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, she came to the USA with the hope of building a better future for her family, who depend on their small farmland. She was looking for a job to start her career. Raji was ill. Severe cough and chest pain for For two or three days, unfortunately, on the morning of November 7, she did not wake up when her alarm rang, leaving her family and friends sad.
“She was a bright, hopeful soul who dreamed of helping her parents continue their farming journey. The Raji family has always found strength and purpose in their small plot of agricultural land. Their crops and animals are more than just a source of income. Their youngest, Raji, had a heart full of hope for the future, dreaming of helping her parents build a better tomorrow. As the Raji family grieves this unimaginable loss, we are reaching out to our friends and loved ones for support. We are raising funds for “I helped her cover her educational loans, funeral, travel expenses (to transport her body back home), and some financial support for her family,” Chaitanya wrote.
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Raji’s father, Y. Ramakrishna, is a farmer, and her mother, Nagamani, takes care of their household. His relative said: “The family is devastated and inconsolable.”
(tags for translation) Andhra girl dies in USA
