A British grandmother with a range of health problems became seriously ill during a dream holiday to Disney World, but is stuck in the US after failing to pay for her travel insurance.
Patricia Bunting, 76, had been saving for the past two years to accompany her grandson and her two sons to Walt Disney World in The Sunshine State.
Aware that her declining health would soon mean she would no longer be able to travel back to her beloved United States, she wanted to return to her “happy place.”
Bunting currently uses three different inhalers to ease her breathing problems caused by a chronic lung disease, and she relies on a walker.
She had taken out travel insurance during her twenty previous trips to the US. But this time, she was unable to pay the stated $3,000 fee due to her serious health problems, a decision that would prove to be a terrible mistake.
After making the 10-hour flight from her home in Britain in late October, she enjoyed three weeks in the sun before complaining of exhaustion on November 23.
The family was scheduled to return five days later, but Bunting had to be rushed to the Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Orlando after she was found unconscious in the bathroom.
She spent the next five days in intensive care with Covid and then pneumonia, refusing to be intubated for fear she wouldn’t wake up.
Patricia Bunting, 76, is pictured seriously ill in Orlando after traveling to Florida on vacation and falling ill. She didn’t get travel insurance and is now left with huge medical bills
Bunting had been saving for the past two years to accompany her grandson and her two sons to Walt Disney World in The Sunshine State
Her sons and grandson also had to catch their scheduled flight home on November 28, despite her being in intensive care after running out of money.
More than two weeks later, she is still in intensive care, requiring constant oxygen, taking heavy medications and her medical bills steadily rising.
Her family is keen to fly her home, where her treatment would be covered free of charge by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
Due to her condition, she cannot make the return flight without medical care and requires a bed, oxygen and air assistance.
According to figures provided by her daughter Emma, the costs for the flight and assistance could cost as much as $53,000.
Her daughter, who didn’t make the first Disney trip with her family, has since flown to America to be with her.
Speak with The Tampa Bay Timesshe said: ‘She is afraid of dying in an American hospital, far from her family.
“I want nothing more than to have Mom home for Christmas so she can be surrounded by all the love from her family.”
Bunting lives in Wigan, about 22 miles from Manchester, and has three sons, a daughter and two grandchildren.
More than two weeks later, she is still in intensive care requiring constant oxygen while on heavy medications and her medical bills steadily rising
Due to her condition, she cannot make the return flight without medical care and requires a bed, oxygen and air assistance
The family has sought help from the British Embassy in Miami, which they say only asked how they planned to pay their medical bills.
Emma continued: ‘I feel anxious. I don’t know how much this will cost, but I know she needs this care.’
The family told the outlet that the hospital had helped them with cheap accommodation.
They have since also launched a fundraising campaign to raise the necessary money to fly her home. It can be found here.
Emma wrote: ‘Every donation, regardless of size, will really make a difference. If you are unable to donate, please help by sharing this page with your network.
“We are forever grateful for your kindness, generosity and prayers. We just want to get my mom home where she belongs.”