A daughter has shared the devastating impact on her family after her mum suffered a heart attack and was involved in a car crash during a dream holiday in Jamaica.
Deborah Willcock, 62, from Harwood, went on a family holiday to Montego Bay with her husband Mike, daughter Ashley, son Aaron, and her five grandchildren on Wednesday, August 23.
But she suffered a heart attack two days later on Friday, August 25 and remained in intensive care.
And last week when she was on the way back from another hospital to have tests, she was involved in an ambulance crash with six other cars.
- ALSO READ: Bolton mum needs help after falling ill in Jamaica
- ALSO READ: Bolton community to bring mum home after heart-attack
Her daughter Ashley said: “The last couple weeks of my life have been horrendous.
“When she had the heart attack, they had to do CPR for about 10 to 15 minutes to bring her back, it was awful because the kids were here as well.
“There was nothing wrong with her before.
“She was fit and well.
“We were all looking forward to the holiday since we booked it.
“My dad was begging me not to leave him, so I am staying to support them both.”
The family managed to raise £27,353 on a crowdfunding GoFundMe page which helped her have an angiogram.
She was also meant to have two stents fitted, although they were unable to complete this.
Ashley says they now desperately need to raise another £34,000 to pay for hospital fees and for a medical escort to bring her home on a commercial flight.
Ashley said: “We need to get her home as safely as possible for an open heart operation because they are saying to do the surgery here will cost £50,000, and we would still need to pay what we owe the hospital and the medical escort.
“And we just don’t have that sort of money.”
Deborah is stable at the moment, but it will take time for her to recover.
Family friend Sophie Rhone said: “I am lost for words by what has happened, and I am devastated for them.”
Tammy Allred, from Tonge Moor, along with Kirsty Acton have also organised a fundraising day at the Mosley Arms pub in Breightmet this weekend.
The fundraising day will take place on Sunday, September 10 from 12.30pm to 5.30pm, and will include a tombola, facepainting, a bouncy castle, and more.
Sophie says that the hospital in Jamaica was "refusing" to pay out due to Deborah making a genuine error and not stating she had diabetes type 2.
Prior to her trip Deborah was working for the council as a social worker, and Sophie says she always puts people first.
To help Deborah and her family click here (www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-get-life-saving-treat).
If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel