Woman flew to Barbados for dream holiday – now she’s in a coma
The mother-of-two went to the doctors with symptoms of a chest infection and remains in a coma weeks later.
A woman's dream holiday to Barbados descended into a nightmare after she began to feel unwell. Alison Phillips was left sedated and hooked up to a ventilator within three days of arriving on the Caribbean island after being diagnosed with rapid onset pneumonia.
The "devoted" NHS midwife, from Whitefield, Bury, flew to Barbados with friends to celebrate her 60th birthday on November 2. However, Alison, a mother-of-two, began to feel unwell and went to the doctors with symptoms of a chest infection. Despite being given antibiotics, she was rushed to hospital on November 6 and placed into a coma on sedatives.
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As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Alison was in septic shock - the most severe and life-threatening stage of sepsis - and had an advanced pneumonia infection. She remains in a coma weeks later and her family are now desperately trying to raise money for her care as their insurance company will not be able to fully fund it.
Alison's daughter Abi said: "She was so excited. It was a trip with her friends to celebrate her birthday. She called me at first and said she wasn't feeling very well and went to the doctors in Barbados who gave her antibiotics.
"I'd joked with her at the time and said 'don't moan at me from Barbados when I am sat here in the rain'. The next thing I knew, I got another call from her friend who is also a midwife and knew something wasn't right.
"It was literally days later and she was rushed into A&E with rapid onset pneumonia. The infection just got hold of her, and she was in septic shock. They ventilated her and sedated her, and she is still in hospital now."
Abi, whose brother has flown out to Barbados to be with Alison, said they are now raising money to cover her care. It is regularly increasing due to additional treatment needs in the hospital in Barbados.
According to Abi, the cost of an air ambulance to fly her back home is also estimated to be over £100,000 alone. However, the family are remaining positive with plans in place to reduce Alison's oxygen and sedation due to signs of recent improvement.
Abi continued: "We want to close that gap because the costs are so high, it's thousands. She's just a normal person. We don't have tens of thousands lying around at our fingertips.
"The costs are two-fold. Just to get my brother over there and staying in the most basic accommodation is thousands, and he has a young family himself.
"The picture is so big, it's a huge situation, and we never thought we'd be dealing with this. It's so hard to navigate, especially with the time difference. I spend all day on the phone dealing with the logistics and doctors, and Barbados is five hours behind us.
"My mind is constantly going, but we are trying so hard to hold on to the fact that she's fighting back and that she will pull through and recover. She now has to jump through hurdles, but we are looking at the positives from having these conversations
"It's been so overwhelming and I'm taken back by the support. This could happen to anyone, my mum just got poorly in the wrong place."
In the GoFundMe description, she wrote: "Alison is not only a devoted NHS midwife—having dedicated more than 30 years to caring for mothers, babies, and families with compassion and strength—but also a cherished mother, sister, grandmother, and friend.
"She has supported countless people through some of the most important moments of their lives. Now, she urgently needs that same love and support in return.
"This story and fundraiser are being shared by Alison’s daughter and next of kin, Abi, on her behalf. Alison’s travel insurance is covering a substantial portion of the medical costs and specialist transport needed to bring her home safely, but unfortunately not the full amount.
"Any contribution, no matter how small, would be deeply appreciated as we work to bring Alison home, where she can continue her treatment surrounded by her loved ones. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support, compassion, and prayers during this incredibly difficult time."
