WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — An international student at Wichita State University is fighting for his life in the ICU.  Murali Sai Penaganti was found by his roommates in early March, unconscious. Now, about a month later, he has yet to wake up. His roommates are taking round-the-clock shifts at the hospital to be with him, as his family watches in fear, overseas in India.  "It's been very sad," said NuthanSai Battini, Murali's roommate. Both were to receive a master’s degree from WSU. Battini now cares for his roommate and communicates with Murali's family back home in India. The family is distraught, unsure if their loved one will wake up.  "They're not doing well right now. They can't even see the situation of their son's situation. "We're trying to console them," Battini said.  Kansas county taking stand over traffic ignoring detour Doctors think an autoimmune disease, called autoimmune encephalitis, attacked Penaganti's brain. His brain activity has since returned to normal, but he's now dealing with infections in his lungs.  Roommates are sacrificing their studies to be by his side.  "We are six friends, and we are taking care of everything regarding his paperwork and all of it. "We are making our schedule for being with him day and night," said Battini.  Brandon Johnson found in ethics’ violation, Wu investigation begins Panic, 8,000 miles away, Penaganti's brother, Sivaprasad Penaganti, in India, said his parents have been unable to get an emergency visa.  "I applied 15 days back for an emergency visa, but it's not approved," said Sivaprasa Penaganti.  Sivaprasad has an appointment next week. Hopefully, he can get to his brother in Wichita. He said that without his brother's roommates, they would be lost.  "Every day they're like a family. They treat him like a brother. They care about him. I'd like to appreciate them," said Penaganti.  Family, friends, and fellow students are hopeful that he will open his eyes again.  "It will be the happiest day of my life. If he tries to wake up, if he opens his eyes, more than me, his parents will be happier. They've been waiting for that moment for 27 days," said Battini.  Penaganti is currently on a ventilator as doctors treat those infections, but there is hope that he could wake up soon. A fundraiser set up to help with mounting medical bills has raised almost $50,000. You can find that GoFundMe here. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. ...read more read less