On Friday 13th March, our mum (only aged 55) suffered a devastating stroke while on holiday in Egypt with her friend. She was rushed to Sharm International Hospital where doctors discovered the stroke had been caused by a clot in her brain.

The doctors attempted to treat the clot with thrombolysis to stop the stroke. Sadly, this caused a severe haemorrhage (bleed) in her brain. As a result, our mum had to be placed on a ventilator to help her breathe.

The stroke was so severe that it is now pressing on her brainstem. Doctors have told us that she has no reflexes and there is sadly no chance of recovery.

When we received the news, Chantelle, Kurtis, Stewart (mum’s partner) and I immediately flew to Sharm El Sheikh on the first available flight to be by her side.

We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken.

As a family, we made the incredibly painful decision that the kindest thing would be to let our mum pass peacefully by switching off the ventilator. However, when we discussed this with the Egyptian doctors, they told us this is not permitted under Egyptian law.

This left us with only one option: to bring our mum home to the UK so we can say goodbye properly as a family.

Unfortunately, the doctors in Egypt have said that in her current condition she is not fit to travel. The travel insurance company is also making things difficult by not making a clear decision about whether they will cover the full cost of her treatment and possible medical transport home.

We feel completely helpless.

We are asking for help so that we can bring our mum home. Any donations will go towards medical costs, transport arrangements, and ensuring we can give our mum the peaceful goodbye she deserves surrounded by her family.

If the insurance company later agrees to cover the costs, any funds raised will go toward the expenses our family has already had to pay while staying in Egypt during this incredibly difficult time and towards her funeral.

This is the hardest thing our family has ever faced. We are away from our children and loved ones while trying to navigate an impossible situation in another country without an incredible mum by our sides. We simply don’t want our mum to be left alone in a foreign country without the chance for us to say goodbye properly.

Any support, no matter how small, means the world to us. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for helping us bring our mum home.