On December 26th, 2022, my family took a trip to Dublin, Ireland, for a once-in-a lifetime trip all together, as a group of 13. My grandparents, Anne and Bud, had never been abroad before for vacation, and we were beyond excited when they agreed to come with us, as we knew it would be a special experience we would cherish forever. Throughout our trip, we got to enjoy a tour of Dublin, excursions to the Blarney Castle, Cliffs of Moher, and so many other other-worldly locations that we were so blessed to experience firsthand. On January 2nd, we took our final day trip, before we were to fly home on the 3rd. This time we went to Northern Ireland, a country in the United Kingdom that borders the Republic of Ireland, to visit Giant’s Causeway and Belfast. Right before boarding our bus to the next stop’s destination, in the Nook Cafe, my Gram slipped and fell down a set of several wet, inaccessible stairs, landing right on her hip, breaking it, along with breaking a couple of her fingers. When we arrived in Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, we met an ambulance to take her to the Royal Victoria Hospital. Unfortunately, although multiple days have passed, my Gram continues to be denied medically necessary hip replacement surgery among other things. She has been running a fever on and off, has been struggling with bouts of low blood pressure, and is having some numbness and tingling in her left foot below her hip fracture. The hospital has continuously pushed back her emergent care, and as time passes, she becomes more susceptible to potentially life-threatening complications (Such as infections and blood clots) if there is not a medical intervention as soon as possible. After contacting the health insurance company, the Embassy and Consulate, various medical facilities abroad, and emergency service numbers for US citizens abroad, the absence of available resources has been astounding and heartbreaking for my family. My Gram means the world to not only me and my family, but to many friends and neighbors too! So, we refused to watch her continue to suffer as each day they came in to tell her she was, once again, not of the list for the day’s surgeries and may not be on the list many more days into the future! We have taken matters into our own hands, and our family has worked to set up a medical flight ambulance to transport my Gram home to UPMC Mercy Hospital. We are asking for prayers for her as she makes this journey home and gets the important surgery she needs! We need to move forward with this plan to guarantee her the surgery she needs and a better quality of care overall! Although this is an incredible feat, and it took days and support from many, it does not end here. The price of this service is well beyond the means of our family. The cost for the ambulance flight alone is $78,750. This does not include all of the additional expenses from care abroad, for which she does not have insurance coverage. While this decision is critically important, as you cannot put a price on my Gram’s life, we fear the devastating financial strain this will have on my retired grandparents and our family as a whole. My Gram, Anne Silbaugh, is the kindest, most caring, and loving individual out there. She is also the most generous soul I have ever met, and she never hesitates to offer support to anyone in need. One of her greatest values is that of giving, and I have admired that about her from my earliest life memories. She always discussed the importance of helping others when you are able. Despite how deserving she is of this relief from the extreme unexpected costs of her transportation and care, I know she will still be mad at me for setting up this page, as she is the true definition of a giver and the opposite of a taker. However, she truly needs it, and just as I believe it’s important to give, I believe it’s equally as important to ask for help when you really need it. If you are able to do so and find it in your heart to contribute to her medical emergency, it would mean the world to my family. If you are unable to contribute monetarily, we will be forever grateful for your continued prayers and good vibes sent her way. Thank you in advance for your care, kindness, love, and support. We are doing our best to navigate this unexpected traumatic event, injury, and subsequent lack of adequate care/treatment, but we realized very early on, we cannot do it alone. Much love and our deepest appreciation to all of you for everything!