Devon NHS worker faces health crisis on Spanish holiday

A mum, who is an employee at Derriford Hospital, has fallen seriously ill while on a family holiday in Spain. Kristina Hart and her family were enjoying their holiday until they found themselves in a "desperate" situation.

Kristina, along with her husband Robert Hart and their two children, Cameron and Oliver, had spent a serene evening strolling along the beach in the Spanish town of Salou on June 24.

After ice cream and drinks, they returned to their hotel for some rest. However, just 12 hours later, Kristina suffered a stroke and was immediately rushed to intensive care. The 38 year old is currently being treated at the Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII in the Catalonia city of Tarragona.

Robert, also 38, shared that Kristina has "lost her speech, feeling and movement on her right-hand side and responding to communication is currently a challenge.", reports Plymouth Live.

He praised the hospital for its "brilliant" care but emphasised the need for help to bring Kristina home. To facilitate this, the family has set up a fundraiser for medical repatriation, as Robert revealed that "initial quotes for this level of care suggest that we'll need up to £20,000".

Robert outlined the urgent need for support on a GoFundMe page, stating: "Medical repatriation allows seriously ill people to be moved via a team of medical experts to a location of the patient or family's choosing. We are exploring options for where would be the best place for Kristina, but the costs can be considerably high."

He detailed the insurance troubles they faced just before their holiday, "Kristina tried to get travel health insurance a week before this holiday. She was refused any form of cover and told that due to her various other health conditions, they couldn't insure her as any new condition could be linked to them. So we decided to proceed with the holiday anyway."

In an appeal for assistance, Robert said, "We're asking for your support to donate what you can to help Kristina, and to bring my wife, best friend and soulmate home and where possible, to aid her recovery and help cover expenses for me being close to her until she's in the UK."

He spoke of Kristina's resilience and kindness: "Those close to Kristina know that she is strong, both in body and soul. Her caring spirit inspires others to make the world a better place. And, despite her challenging medical history, would always go about her day with the most beautiful and infectious smile."

Describing her dedication to healthcare, Robert shared that Kristina has been a passionate NHS worker for over a decade, serving as an Operating Department Practitioner at Derriford Hospital. He also expressed his personal admiration, calling her the "best wife" and an "incredible mother".

Speaking about the hospital in Tarragona, he praised their efforts: "they are amazing, we couldn't be happier with what they've done for her. Extremely efficient, very well staffed and excellent modern equipment and it's a teaching hospital like Derriford". Despite the high-quality care, Kristina's family are eager to have her back home safely at the earliest opportunity.

You can donate to the GoFundMe fundraiser here.

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