A grandmother is on a ventilator in intensive care in a Turkish hospital after falling ill while on a dream holiday to Marmaris. Mother-of-two and grandma Pat House, 60, was having an "amazing time" in the tourist resort of Marmaris in Turkey when she started to feel unwell the night before she was due to fly home.
Pat started to feel ill on Friday, October 14, and after picking up some antibiotics, she took herself off to bed for an early night to try and get some rest. But her friend Desrey Dones, who had booked the holiday for the pair to enjoy, was horrified when she checked in on her the next morning and found her gasping for breath.
The hotel Pat, from South Bank in Teesside, was staying at called an ambulance for her and she was rushed to a nearby private hospital. While her two daughters have now flown out to Turkey to be by her side, the private hospital did not allow anyone else to go in with Pat.
Instead, her loved ones were told Pat was receiving oxygen and to keep checking back on her, but hours later, they found her sat in a waiting area, TeessideLive reports. Desrey was told Pat had bronchitis and had tested positive for Covid-19, but the hospital reportedly had no beds for coronavirus patients.
Borrowing a wheelchair, they managed to get Pat back to the hotel, where her condition seemed to be improving although she was still too unwell to fly home. Pat insisted Desrey, 73, fly back home on their scheduled flight, but Desrey's family, who were also staying in the same hotel, kept checking on her sick friend.
They managed to get Pat a nebuliser and her condition appeared to be improving but she rapidly declined and was taken to the state hospital an hour away in Muğla. Pat's daughters Keeley and Jasmine are now in Turkey but only Jasmine has been able to see her. At the moment there is no change in her condition.
The family now fear Pat may not be covered by her travel insurance - having been admitted to hospital days after she should have flown home. So far more than £200 has been raised to help support Pat's loved ones with costs as they do all they can to support the adored grandmother.
Desrey's daughter April Pearson set up the Go Fund Me page in the hope of supporting the family during this difficult time. "It's really sad, it's also the financial pressures of everything," said April. "Pat's two daughters have flown out there, I know they were at first paying £45 to get from Marmaris to Muğla each way.
"They've found another hotel closer to the hospital but it must be so hard for them."
On Thursday, October 20, Pat remained in the ICU and her daughter Keeley has contacted her insurance company but at this time it's not clear if her hospital treatment will be covered due to underlying health conditions.
"I saw Pat on FaceTime with my mum on Friday and she didn't look really unwell the night before she said she just felt a bit chesty. It came on so quick," added April, 32.
"Mum and Pat live a few doors away from one another and met taking their dogs out for walks. She's a really lovely, kind lady.
"She's originally from down south and moved up to Middlesbrough to be closer to one of her daughters. She's a quiet lady but so lovely.
"My mam said they were having such a laugh on holiday, it was so different to walking the dogs or going to the shops and it's taken such a turn."
So far more than £1,100 has been raised to support the family. To donate to the Go Fund Me page click here. Any businesses that would like to donate for raffle prizes are asked to contact aprillenihan1@gmail.com.
