A British grandmother is critically ill and stranded in a Turkish hospital after a weight-loss operation turned into a nightmare, leaving her family facing a desperate race against time and a staggering £60,000 medical bill.
Anita Kurian, 54, travelled to Istanbul for a gastric sleeve procedure, a surgery she hoped would be a fresh start. Instead, she suffered catastrophic complications, including a suspected leak from the operation site, which led to a severe infection and sepsis.
Her daughter, Anjelita Dsouza, 28, is pleading for help to get her mother back to the UK. She revealed her mum is now on a ventilator in intensive care, fighting for her life and completely unresponsive.
"We are absolutely devastated," Anjelita said. "My mum is the rock of our family. To see her like this, so far from home, is unbearable. We just need her back in the UK where she can get the care she needs."
A Desperate Fight for Repatriation
The family's ordeal is compounded by a financial crisis. The Turkish hospital is demanding an eye-watering £60,000 to continue her treatment and for a potential medical evacuation. The Foreign Office has confirmed they are supporting the family, but the situation remains dire.
Anjelita, from Harrow, London, has launched a frantic fundraising campaign to cover the costs, but the target is immense. She has been warned that without payment, her mother's life-saving treatment could be stopped.
"The hospital won't let her go until they get the money. It's a living nightmare. We feel so helpless," she added.
A Warning to Others
This tragic case serves as a stark warning about the hidden dangers of seeking complex medical procedures abroad. While the initial cost can be cheaper than private care in the UK, the risks of severe complications and the subsequent financial and emotional burden can be devastating.
The family's hope now rests on a complex and costly medical repatriation, a process that involves specially equipped planes and medical teams to safely transport critically ill patients across borders.
For now, Anita remains in the Turkish hospital, with her family praying for a miracle and a way to bring their beloved nan home.
