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Mum 'so happy' sick baby can fly home from Mexico

Mum 'so happy' sick baby can fly home from Mexico

Yahoo13-03-2025

The mother of a 19-month-old girl who suffered a brain haemorrhage while on holiday in Mexico has said her family have "been to hell and back".
Sienna-Rose, from Liverpool, collapsed in Cancun last week and underwent life-saving surgery.
Her family were told it would cost more than £100,000 to fly Sienna-Rose back to the UK because an aeroplane with specialist medical equipment would be needed.
After more than £145,000 was raised in an online appeal, Natasha said the family would "forever be in debt to everyone that has helped get our baby home".
"We just want to express how happy we are with the love and support we have received from not just Liverpool but around the country," said Natasha, 31.
Sienna-Rose had been playing in the family's hotel apartment with her two older brothers when she fell ill.
"It all happened really quickly," said Natasha.
"She was having a seizure. She wasn't crying. She was purple, she was stiff, she was unable to move."
The hotel's doctor told the family to go to hospital.
The family said Sienna-Rose only received all of the treatment she needed after they had gone to four hospitals.
"The first wanted £4,000 up front which we didn't have," Natasha said.
The family said they then travelled to another hospital so that Sienna-Rose could have a CT scan.
At a third hospital, a paediatric doctor said the little girl had suffered a brain haemorrhage.
The family said they were eventually told Sienna-Rose needed emergency surgery to remove fluid from her brain.
"It was horrendous," Natasha said.
"I broke down and cried to my mum on the phone.
"The British Consulate came to us and said 'Sorry, but there's nothing we can do'.
"To be this far away from home and not have any source of support - you do feel let down.
"I've never felt so isolated."
Natasha said the family had been quoted more than £100,000 to cover the costs of bringing Sienna-Rose home.
She said they had been told their travel insurance was invalid.
Natasha said the fundraising appeal to help her family, who will return home on Saturday, had been "surreal".
Thanking everyone who had contributed, she said: "Without them we wouldn't have been able to sort this air ambulance home.
"We could not have done this without all her guardian angels and again we cannot thank people enough from the bottom of our hearts."
Lia's Wings charity confirmed it was supporting the family "to ensure a seamless reintegration into NHS care upon her return".
The Foreign Office confirmed it was supporting the family of a British national in hospital in Mexico.
It said it was in touch with local authorities.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

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