A family’s trip to Tenerife quickly turned into a ‘horror show’ when a grandmother was rushed to hospital after slipping and falling over whilst unpacking.
Debbie Drysdale had only just flown out with her mum May, 75, and six-year-old daughter Katie when the incident occurred during the Easter holidays on April 7.
Booked as a celebration after May overcame breast cancer and two major operations, the week’s getaway was thrown into turmoil just moments after arriving at their all-inclusive resort.
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Debbie, from Mayfield in Midlothian, Scotland, was getting her daughter's swimsuit on when she heard a loud thud followed by screams from her mum, reports Edinburgh Live.
After she sprinted through to see what had happened, she found May lying on the tiled floor unable to move. The 75-year-old was rushed to hospital after she said she couldn't move and complained of severe back pain.
May, who fractured her spine and shoulder, has spent the entire week in hospital and remains in intensive care after developing an infection.
"My mum had chemotherapy last year for breast cancer and had two major operations,” Debbie explained. “The first one didn't work and they managed to get the cancer out during the second.
“The doctor back home gave her the all-clear to go on holiday and enjoy herself. We booked it for the Easter holidays so my daughter wasn't disrupted from school. Everything was going so well. We got through the airport and security quickly and landed with no issues.
"We were told to wait on the room while it was being cleaned. My mum was unpacking her case and I was putting on my daughter's swimsuit so I didn't see what happened but all of a sudden I heard an almighty bang and she was screaming.
"She was on the floor and said 'I can't move'". I ran down to the reception and the man came up and tried to help her up but I said we need an ambulance. He got a doctor and my mum waited on the floor for an hour.
"When the doctor came he took one look at her and said 'ambulance'. The ambulance came and they lifted her from the floor. She was taken to hospital and me and my daughter jumped in the back of the ambulance."
Debbie, meanwhile, contacted her mum's insurance provider who needed details of the accident to determine it was not related to her cancer treatment as she wouldn't be covered if so.
As of April 15, Debbie is still waiting on medical records from the UK. While May was in hospital, she contracted an infection and was taken into intensive care where she is due to get out today (April 16).
Doctors informed Debbie that May needs urgent surgery on her back or she may be left paralysed. Debbie's friend Sheena has since set up a GoFundMe page to help with the cost of accommodation and provisions while Debbie and her daughter stayed in Tenerife to be with her mum.
Debbie continued: "Me and my daughter have been on our own but luckily my mum's friend who stays out here managed to organise accommodation near the hospital for us. I've also been able to let Katie visit my mum's friend while I go to the hospital as anyone under 12 is not allowed.
"It has just been one nightmare after another. The member of staff who called the doctor asked if my mum was up in the apartment a few days later and I said no she's in hospital with a fractured spine and shoulder. I just don't think he understood how serious it was.
"Her arm is strapped up but they think her shoulder should heal in the next few weeks. I've been making lots of phone calls to lots of people like the consulate, Jet2 and the insurance company.
"It has been very very stressful and I've been doing it on my own with a six-year-old. I have been to the hospital every day and obviously the conditions there aren't as good as in the UK. Times like this you really appreciate the NHS as she is just being given medical care, not personal care.
"I had to type in on Google translate that she needed to be washed and changed because they couldn't understand. My work have been very understanding as it's obviously a horrendous situation.”
"I don't know how long I'm going to be here but I'm so humbled by the support of people back home. who have sent messages and donated. It's so nice seeing the community coming together when something like this happens."
Katie’s dad has since flown over to Tenerife to take her back home in time for school but Debbie says she is staying by her mum’s side until she is safe.
Debbie says she has been so worried about her mum and daughter that she hasn't been eating, sleeping or even drinking enough. She added that her mum was so happy Debbie didn't fly back and leave her alone in Spain and was so grateful to see the response to the fundraiser - which has since raised more than £3,000.
"I don't know how long I'm going to be here but I'm so humbled by the support of people back home who have sent messages and donated,” she said.
“It's so nice seeing the community coming together when something like this happens."
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