Joyce Kettle, 74, was on a luxury cruise to Cuba, Jamaica and Mexico with Anne Henderson and her son, John, when tragedy struck.
After leaving the port near Mexico, Mrs Kettle began suffering from severe breathing difficulties.
The widow was then airlifted to a hospital in Cozumel, a holiday island near Cancun, and underwent a heart operation on Monday, which required three stents.
She is now recovering in hospital but her family say her holiday insurance through her bank only covers her for European trips.
It means Mrs Kettle, from Blyth, Northumberland, has been left with a medical bill standing at £50,556 plus doctors’ fees.
Les Chrisp, Mrs Kettle’s youngest daughter Leanne’s boyfriend, said the family is desperate to get her home.
“The family is a wreck at the moment and it has been horrific because there has been such a lack of communication,” he said.
“We got the news at 3am on Monday but didn’t hear anything official until 9pm. For 18 hours we didn’t know if she was dead or alive.
“The family and the kids have been a mess and we feel completely powerless.”
Mrs Kettle has three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and is a retired care home assistant.
Builder Mr Chrisp, 38, said: “She lives for family and she eats, sleeps and dreams the kids.
“She is at her happiest when she is with the family. She comes over all the time and doesn’t like sitting in the house on her own.”
Her family is trying to raise money towards medical costs and the price of flying Mrs Kettle home.
Already, friends and loved ones have raised thousands of pounds but the family fear the price of getting her back to the North East could spiral.
Mr Chrisp said: “We just want her home, everybody is worried sick.
“It’s not like we can just jump in the car and visit her in hospital.
“In fact, the embassy told us not to fly out to see her as they said we should keep our money as we would need it for the medical bills.”