British grandmother, 41, fights for life after collapsing with mystery illness during trip to Turkey: Family launch fundraising appeal to cover ‘£585-a-day’ medical bills
- Michaela Heathcote went to Turkey last month to view an apartment to rent
- She was denied boarding her flight home because of a high temperature
- The 41-year-old’s condition worsened and she is unconscious on life support
- Her son Jordan, 22, is raising funds to cover the £585-a-day medical bills
A British grandmother is fighting for her life after collapsing with a mystery illness during a holiday in Turkey.
Michaela Heathcote, a single mother from Bensham in Gateshead, is lying unconscious in hospital after falling seriously ill since she was denied a flight due to a high temperature in September.
Her family, including son Jordan, 22, are now appealing for help to cover the daily medical bills of 6,000 Turkish Lira, equivalent to £585.
Michaela Heathcote, from Gateshead, is fighting for her life in a Turkish hospital after falling ill with a mystery illness
Michaela, 41, travelled to Turkey last month to see an apartment which she was hoping to rent.
But on the day she was due to fly home from Dalaman Airport she was told she could not board the plane because she had a high temperature.
She alerted her son Jordan but her health went on to deteriorate by mid-September.
On October 1, she was admitted to hospital because her condition worsened, and Jordan was told she had become seriously ill and is now on life support at a state hospital in Fetiye.
Jordan, who is currently living in Manchester, says his mother is ‘unconscious and unresponsive’ and no-one knows what happened to her.
He was trying to arrange for Michaela to be flown back to the UK by air ambulance but has been told she is not fit to fly. He is now being asked how he plans to pay the hospital bills, which could be many thousands of pounds.
At this stage, he does not know if his mother had insurance to cover the hospital treatment and expenses, and says she has previously had problems with insurance policies due to her disabilities and health issues.
The 41-year-old, pictured with her grandson Harley, travelled to Turkey last month to see an apartment which she was hoping to rent
He said that Michaela has neurological disorders and suffers from depression.
The family have now started a Gofundme appeal to raise money to help her.
Jordan, a father-of-two, said: ‘She was meant to be going over to Turkey for a few days and was going to look at an apartment to see if she could rent it for a year.
‘On the day she was coming back, she was turned around at Dalaman Airport. They said her temperature was too high.
‘I’m not really sure what happened to her but she went on to become quite ill and was taken to hospital. Doctors are saying they are not sure what has caused this.
‘She is currently intubated and unable to breath without the life support machine in the intensive care unit at a state hospital in Fetiye. She is fighting for her life.
‘I was told she is suffering from liver failure and has been given blood as her blood value is now low and is in a critical condition.
‘I have been told the cost of the ICU per day is roughly 6000 Turkish Liras, which converts to £585 per day. There will be additional costs of the CT and MRI scans she is getting and the medication she is receiving.
‘The hospital have asked me how I am going to raise the money and when I will have the money available to pay them. Unfortunately, I have no alternative but to arrange a Gofundme as I am unable to gather such large amounts of money alone.’
Jordan says he has not been given any indication of how long it will take for Michaela’s condition to improve.
‘My mind is lost,’ says Jordan. ‘I’m completely stressed. But I just have to carry on and find a way to bring my mum home.’
His GoFundMe page has currently raised nearly £3,000 to help cover the medical costs.
Anyone who wishes to make a donation can do so here.