On my dream holiday, I nearly lost my life. In the hospital, I had to admit a shameful mistake – one every Aussie should know before they travel

A young Australian woman is on an expensive and painful road to recovery after a truck crashed into her car while on vacation in Canada.

Chloe Mibus, from Hamilton Victoria, was driving alone in Canada on October 2 when a truck crashed into the driver’s side door.

Ms Mibus was temporarily trapped in her car, but managed to get out of her car and call emergency services.

She was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, including a ruptured spleen, severe internal bleeding, multiple pelvic fractures, separation of the pubic symphysis and a broken sacrum.

Now Ms. Mibus faces four months of inpatient care, followed by several months of outpatient rehabilitation.

“While I am grateful to be alive, the journey ahead is long, difficult and uncertain,” Ms Mibus said.

‘A part of me still hopes that I will wake up from this nightmare, without scars and be able to walk again immediately and have all my blood back where it should be.’

Despite having insurance, her medical coverage had a very low limit, leaving her tens of thousands of dollars in debt from paying Canadian hospital costs.

The truck struck the driver’s side door, leaving Ms. Mibus with life-threatening injuries, including a ruptured spleen, severe internal bleeding, multiple pelvic fractures, pubic symphysis separation and a broken sacrum.

Her hospital stay alone — not including treatments, medications and services — cost nearly $5,000 per night.

She is now desperately trying to return to Australia for hip and pelvic realignment surgery, a procedure that would cost her “hundreds of thousands of dollars” if performed in Canada.

She has purchased mobility aids, including a wheelchair, walker and pillow, and non-subsidized medication for the flight home.

Her mother also had to fly to Canada to accompany her on her flight home as she is not cleared to fly alone.

“The cost for this trip is currently about $50,000,” Ms Mibus said.

Ms Mibus said if the accident had occurred in Australia, she would have been able to focus on her recovery rather than the enormous financial stress it has caused.

In an effort to help pay her hospital bills, she has set up a Gofundme to help raise money.

“It was a rude and cruel awakening to realize that if this accident had happened in Australia, there wouldn’t have been this enormous financial pressure on top of the many other challenges like trying to stay alive,” Ms Mibus said.

‘It is a deeply dehumanizing experience. I admit that setting up this GoFundMe brings with it many difficult emotions: sadness, shame, embarrassment, devastation, and heartbreak.

“This accident has been hell, and I need your support to come out the other side.”

Ms Mibus said she was “determined” to focus on her blessings and use the “series of horrors” to make herself a more compassionate and positive person.

Ms Mibus has started a GoFundMe to raise money to cover exorbitant medical bills in Canada, her travel back to Australia for surgery, rehabilitation costs and living expenses

“While some of Australia’s care will be subsidized, I am very concerned about how much support I will really need to find my place in this world again,” Ms Mibus said.

‘I have lived outside Australia for the past two and a half years so I am concerned about where I might live during the rehabilitation and transition to life down under with such overwhelming physical and financial constraints.

‘Given the recovery is taking so long, my ability to generate income will be significantly affected for many months, so the thought of more major, unexpected expenses is extremely frightening.’

She added that those who are unable to contribute financially can make a difference by holding their loved ones and counting their blessings.