A North East family have launched a desperate plea to bring their nana home from Turkey after she was rushed to intensive care there while on holiday.
Christine Stockdale was on a two- week trip to Antalya in Turkey with her husband John when she became seriously ill. The 68-year-old, from Marton, was diagnosed with an infection in her gall bladder which then spread to her pancreas.
She is now in intensive care but the treatment is costing £2,000 per day and her family say funds are running out. Back in Teesside, Christine's family are doing everything they can to get her home for the essential healthcare she needs by attempting to raise funds for a £40,000 medically supported flight back to the UK.
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Granddaughter Chloe Stockdale, 26, a student in Newcastle, told TeessideLive that her nana was due to have surgery on her gall bladder but it was postponed. Despite this, she was given the go-ahead to take a holiday.
Chloe said: "No-one knew how seriously she needed the surgery. They were due to fly home last week but then my nana became really ill with her gall bladder, she was taken to intensive care in Antalya because the infection had spread from her gall bladder to her pancreas.
"She's had her gall bladder removed and is now on a ventilator because she has low oxygen levels, the next few days for her are crucial. The hospital are asking for proof of funds but the money is quickly running out, my nana and grandad have a pension but it's not a lot and as a family we don't have a lot of funds to support her in hospital."
Christine's son Dean is in Turkey with his parents and the family are being supported by the British Embassy in Antalya who are helping with translation and interpreting at the hospital. Doctors said that Christine urgently needed the surgery and would have fallen ill regardless of whether she was at home or on holiday.
The hospital is asking for funds for Christine's ongoing treatment and the family are close to the point where they are unable to prove they have the funds to support her care. Chloe has since set up a JustGiving page in an attempt to raise £40,000 needed for the medically supported flight back home so her nana can access NHS healthcare close to her family.
Chloe described her nana as a "wonderful and much-loved wife, mum, grandmother, sister and friend," who has devoted her time working with students at Middlesbrough College alongside supporting her two granddaughters. Chloe added: "As it stands she would need a ventilator on the flight home, but we hope she can be well enough to get a normal flight back.
"We're not with her if she takes a turn for the worst and we just need her back for Christmas. We know it's a difficult time financially for lots of people so if you're not able to donate to the Just Giving page even sharing it is helping us raise awareness for my nana.
"Anyone who knows Christine would describe her as the best of people. She’s entirely selfless. She would do anything for anyone. A loving and warm woman, who’s always put her family first. She really is a special person."
You can donate to Chloe's Just Giving Page for Christine here.
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