Yahoo News Newcastle woman fighting for life in Tenerife as family make desperate plea
A Newcastle mum is fighting for her life in Tenerife as her family issue a plea to help bring her home.
Tracey Ellis, from Kingston Park, was rushed into hospital whilst on holiday alone in Tenerife. The mum-of-four called herself an ambulance on Saturday, June 22 after she had excruciating stomach pains which left her struggling on the floor on her hands and knees.
After being taken into an emergency clinic, the 56-year-old was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and was transferred to a private hospital, then rushed into the intensive care unit. Her family say the hospital did not inform them back in the UK and they did not find out Tracey was in hospital until she contact her children - Connor, Curtis, Grant and Amy - on the Monday morning to tell them she was feeling slightly better.
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But on the Monday evening she informed the family how frightened she was and said she was being charged £5k by the hospital due to her not being able to sort out her travel insurance claim yet.
The following day, her son Grant told her that he and his brother would be flying out, and Tracey replied to their text. This was the last time they heard from Tracey.
On their arrival at the hospital, they were shocked to find Tracey in an induced coma on life support. They contacted their brother and sister, Connor and Amy, telling them to fly out immediately as the next 48 hours were critical.
When arriving at the hospital in the North of Tenerife, there was a language barrier, so it was hard for the family to interpret what was going on. The family was told she had internal bleeding and that the infection on her pancreas had spread to multiple organs.
After this devastating news, the family say they were then asked to pay a further £10k deposit, or they’d have to transfer her to another hospital.
Connor, 29, Tracey’s eldest son, said: “We were petrified to move mam in the critical state she was in. All we wanted to do was to be with her and not focus on the cost involved."
Tracey then had to be transferred to a state funded hospital due to the ongoing demands for money and began receiving further treatment there. The family is now trying to arrange travel home if/or when her condition improves.
The outstanding medical bills have now risen to £30,000. The family have set up a GoFundMe page.
Amy, 20, said: “We have all been overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness. All we want to do is focus on my mam’s recovery. She’s the strongest, bravest and kind-hearted mam. If anyone can please help us we’ll be eternally grateful."
