Hi everyone,

My name is Ziggy, I’m a 28 year old British girl who came to Pennsylvania, USA, to visit a good friend and ended up living through the most frightening month of my life. I’m now facing huge unexpected medical bills, an ongoing recovery, and no safe way home for Christmas unless I can get some help, which I hate to ask for.

While I was here, I suddenly collapsed with severe abdominal pain. Doctors discovered a perforated ovarian cyst that had leaked a litre of blood into my abdomen. What should have been a simple half-hour procedure turned into a 4 hour emergency surgery when my vitals crashed on the operating table. I was told afterwards that I nearly died. Thankfully, they managed to stabilise me and send me home the same day!

But a few days later, things took another turn. My stomach became swollen, hot, and extremely painful. I spiked a fever and returned to the ER, where I learned that one of the surgical entry points had become infected. A large abscess had formed, which had to be drained immediately, leaving me with an open wound that requires daily packing. I was kept in hospital for a week and during that time, a second infection developed in the same area. I had to undergo another procedure, and the wound had to be reopened and extended to drain again.

My doctors have said I must stay in the U.S. for at least a month from the surgery date to recover, receive daily wound care, and attend further inpatient appointments. I cannot fly home until I’m medically cleared which won’t be until around December 20th, nearly a month after I was meant to leave.

I’m trying to stay positive and focus on healing, but the truth is I’m terrified and alone. My travel insurance is currently refusing to cover the costs (an appeal is underway), I have no financial support here, and I don’t know how I’m going to manage the medical bills on top of finding a safe way home once I’m allowed to fly. I just want to get back to my family for Christmas safely and as healthy as possible.

If you’re able to donate, share, or even just send a kind word, it would mean more than I can express. Every little bit helps - truly.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for any support you can give. ❤️❤️

Merry Christmas,

Ziggy x