Hi my name is Denise, on May 24th 2023 I was suppose to be landing in Canada and instead I was delayed in Germany for a night and then got stuck in Amsterdam due to a medical emergency … a Kidney stone that got infected and was too large for me to pass on my own and Air Canada’s negligence! I was unable to make it home on my original flight and could have died of sepsis due to lack of immediate medical attention!

In March of 2023 I was given an amazing opportunity to attend the Cannes Film Festival for the Marche Du Film via the Film Market Access Program. As an emerging Producer I jumped at the opportunity; even though my industry was very slow to start as we all know (the impending writers strike) and I had also made the bold move to partner and start my own Production Company with my friend who brought this opportunity to me.

I saved, I borrowed, I took the odd gigs here and there and finally even dipped into my savings and RRSPs to make this opportunity happen! I purchased my ticket a month in advance and it was official I was on my way to a life changing experience! My time spent there was wonderful and I learned so much; and met a lot of people who I am looking forward to connecting with further.

I had been feeling unwell the week leading up to my departure but I figured lack of sleep, food and jet lag was all finally catching up to me and boy was I WRONG!

The day I was leaving, I was already very uncomfortable and feeling unwell. I had done my due diligence with purchasing my ticket a month in advance and pre-checked in 24hours before my flight and booked my seat on my Air Canada flight.

Even before arriving to the airport my flight was already delayed twice! On arrival at the airport my boarding pass would not scan and I was directed to the counter. When I arrived at the counter I was told I would not be able to board due to the flight being overbooked. I was confused as I had my flight booked for well over a month in advance and I had already pre-checked myself in and had a seat assigned. I was told they would be transferring me to another airline this time Lufthansa but that I would have to stop in Germany to make it home Wednesday May 24th same as my original flight. By this point I just wanted to get home and accepted the change.

I wish I would have stayed put and tried to get onto the original flight because what happened next was a nightmare no one wants to experience!

I continued to get notifications about the Air Canada flight delay a total of 6 delays! But I felt lucky that I was about to get on a plane and get home, my flight departed Nice 12 mins late and I missed my connection in Germany. The only way to get home now was to wait for a flight the next morning to Amsterdam that would fly me direct to Toronto.

I accepted and made my connection to Amsterdam, while waiting to board I started feeling uncomfortable, I mentioned it to my friend who said “we’re almost home, it’s just lack of sleep …”

I got up to go to the bathroom and I never came back; I collapsed on the floor in the Airport bathroom outside of my gate and had to be wheeled out. The. Cabin crew at first accepted me onto the flight but as we were about to take off I was progressively getting worse and began vomiting uncontrollably, the decision was made to remove from the flight as I was not capable to make a 7 hour flight home in my condition.

My friend had to make a tough decision and stay on the plane. It was a hard decision they had to make but I told them they needed to get on that flight and help me better being back in Canada, staying with me would be no help to either of us.

I was alone now in Amsterdam and I was scared, I had no idea what was happening all I knew was that I was in excruciating pain and in and out of consciousness while the team of medical professionals at the hospital tried to assess me. I was given a pain killer at the gate injected into me to calm me enough to move me into the medical ward. The medical team made me comfortable and began to administer pain killers which made me very ill while there (according to the attending doctor at the hospital they gave me too much for my size) they found blood and bacteria in my urine and said I would be transferred via ambulance to a hospital in Amsterdam.

I was given a Visa and sent in an ambulance to the hospital. On arrival at the hospital the team got to work: blood tests, xray, ct scan, urine tests. They found the culprit a kidney stone which was attempting to pass. I asked the size and the doctor only replied “it’s big” which had he been more specific I would have realized that it was something I would not be able to pass on my own. He provided me with a prescription to painkillers and gave me a letter to clear me to travel.

I had to pay out of pocket $300EUR for the services provided and that is just the base this actually may increase I am awaiting the final invoice. I also incurred an $80EUR charge at the airport hospital for the pain medication. And I am awaiting an invoice for the ambulance that transferred me which I’m sure will be roughly $150-$200EUR.

I had to pay $200EUR for a hotel room and I spent around $150 EUR on ubers to get myself around Amsterdam as I could not walk nor carry my bags with the pain I was in. And finally $300CAD for a ticket to be changed (which they basically made me beg) so I could get home on Friday May 26th 2023 at 1:40pm otherwise they wanted me to pay $1600 for a one way ticket home. The cheapest for me to fly home was Monday at $1000/ticket.

I’m happy I came home Friday because by Sunday May 28th I was in the hospital and headed for emergency surgery because my kidney stone had gotten infected and was creating a bigger problem sepsis! The stone was 1cm and regardless of pain medication or fluid intake is not possible for me to pass it without medical attention. My medical team in Canada was very concerned and I am so lucky to be able to live somewhere where I was able to access the proper medical attention.

I am on a course of antibiotics for 2 months and I am scheduled for another surgery in two weeks to finally remove the culprit! Right now I am unable to work, walk, drive, go to the gym or really look after myself because of how bad the infection got. I have been told I will be out for 4-6 weeks approximately but as we know even though we stop and can’t work; bills and responsibilities do not.

I am asking for donations so that I can pay back some of the funds that friends sent me to get me home, for some bills I need to look after here at home until my sickness benefits kick in and to offset some of the out of pocket costs I incurred while in Amsterdam.

I do not come from a wealthy family, my mom is a pensioner and my father is on disability due to a stroke he suffered and I am their only child; they rely on my income to take care of things they are unable to and this has deeply impacted them as well. I want to at least be able to cover my portion of the bills and help in some capacity while they look after me until I can look after myself and them.

I am a hardworking and healthy woman and never in a million years would I have thought that this would happen to me while away. I never thought I would be asking for help but here I am in hopes that there are some kind people who can spare some funds to help keep me going and payback whats needed.

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for reading my story and for any donations you are able to make. God Bless!