The family of a great-grandmother say they are in a "living nightmare" as doctors warned the worst when the 75-year-old was placed in an induced coma in Turkey. June Redman joined her daughter, Lisa Appleyard, and the family for a holiday in Turkey when she suffered a fall on the first day. The gran tripped on a step from the veranda into the room they were staying in, banging her head and suffering two cuts to her arm.
Fall leads to serious illness
Lisa explained it wasn't until days later that her mother, from Middlesbrough, became seriously sick. The 56-year-old said June was rushed to hospital with dangerously low blood pressure where she was then placed in an induced coma before falling ill with sepsis and pneumonia. There, Lisa said the family were told by doctors to prepare for the worst. Fortunately, she said June is now awake and has started to show signs of improvement, but she remains in intensive care at the Ahu Hospital in Marmaris and they are struggling to get her home, reports Teesside Live.
Family desperate to bring her home
Now, the family is desperate to bring her home for further treatment in Middlesbrough. However, Lisa said the travel insurance will only contribute 21.28% and her family does not have the means to cover the remaining £31,500 needed for an air ambulance. They are sharing their story in the hope others may be willing to donate to their cause while also warning people about potential travel insurance cover issues.
"We desperately need help," said Lisa, 56. "It's horrendous. An absolute living nightmare. We are in no position whatsoever to cover the rest of these costs. We need to warn people, don't ever get yourself in this position - I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."
Medical history and insurance dispute
Lisa said, as her mum did not reportedly declare some aspects of her medical record, which she says are not relevant to the incident on holiday, the insurance company will not cover the full amount. These include a diagnosis for COPD which Lisa says they were all unaware of. June also attended A&E after hurting her shoulder but did not require overnight admittance. "I didn't know she had COPD - all I knew was every year she used to suffer with bronchitis and she was given this pink inhaler which she used and hasn't had bronchitis since," said Lisa. "I don't believe she knew either. My mum is a stickler, she always says you must have insurance if you're going away. Her policy cost her I think £72 and they said for the stuff she missed off the doctor's record, it would have made her policy £200. She would have paid that. But some of the stuff is ridiculous."
June took out a policy with Goodtogo Travel Insurance. A spokesperson for the parent company, Ancile Insurance Group, said: "Due to the complexity and ongoing nature of Mrs Redman’s case, we cannot comment on the details of the claim. We are working with Mrs Redman’s family to ensure the claim is resolved, and will continue to offer them support and assistance."
Fundraising efforts
June's family has managed to raise £7,000 so far including just over £2,000 through a fundraising page. They now hope the kindness of strangers and others who know June can help them bring her home. "Everybody knows my mum is the most genuine, kindest, loveliest person and it's so unfair that it's happened to her," said Lisa. "She hadn't been away for a few years and she loves going abroad. I thought she would have said Turkey is too far. But she said, 'count me in.'"
June's granddaughter Claire set up the GoFundMe page as they battle to get her "Nanna Noonie" home. She said: "What was meant to be a family holiday has turned into an incredibly frightening and uncertain situation for our family. If you know June, you will know how much she means to our family. She is our Noonie, and we just want to give her the best possible chance of coming home."
