Tyra is STILL STRANDED – Please Help Bring Her Home

UPDATED MARCH 2025

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"Please Support Tyra's Journey Home:2Yrs Stranded Due to PTSD"

Who We Are

My name is Caroline, I am raising funds for my 16-year-old daughter, Tyra, who developed PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) after a turbulent flight in 2022. Since then, Tyra has been stranded in Tanzania, unable to board a plane home. Tyra has high-functioning autism which was diagnosed in Ireland, so making it even harder for her to cope with this situation. We are from Ireland where we live and work for many years and started family after meeting in Ireland.

Photos: taken 2024 & 2023 in Tanzania

We were traveling to Tanzania, for a family reunion after the sudden loss of my brother to COVID-19. Tyra had flown on long-haul flights before, all with connections. Unfortunately, the trauma from that turbulent flight has kept Tyra from flying back, despite many attempts. After continuous therapy sessions to help her manage her fear reduce trauma, she in a much better, than she was two years ago. We are more hopeful now, especially with the plan of taking a shorter, non-stop flight to a destination closer to Ireland.

Why We Need Your Help

When Tyra walked off the plane, we were all offloaded with her three younger siblings, who since I've returned them to Ireland. All born and bred in Ireland. Tyra has been receiving treatment, including therapy, but she still turns back at the boarding gate and refuses to enter the airport. Plan now is to fly back form another Country. Both parents we've tried to fly back with her.

We urgently need assistance as our funds have been exhausted. While therapy has helped Tyra face some fears, she has missed out on school and the Junior Cert exams this year. Although we’ve tried homeschooling with eBooks, her condition makes it difficult for her to keep up. She is eager to return to Ireland and resume her education, and it breaks my heart to see her struggle. Once she’s back, we will ensure she continues to receive the necessary care and support.

Why Now?

We’ve been hopeful that each new attempt would be the one where she could finally fly, but despite calming medications, she didn't agree to fly. Now that she’s 16, she'll get stronger prescription from her Doctors. On top of all by flying from a different airport and a shorter route by air, in which she is agreeing to.

The Journey

We have the following two options:

1. Air Travel via Kenya

The route is Dar-es-Salaam to Nairobi by road (border crossing), then a non-stop flight from Nairobi to London, followed by travel from London to Ireland by bus, train & ferry. Tyra is relieved from Kenya will take fewer hours. We want to eliminate any doubts to ensure she feels completely comfortable and safe on her journey home and sleep on air.

2. Land/Ferry Travel from Tanzania to Ireland

This route involves booking a road trip through a travel agent (found out enquiring), as I recently discovered new options just in case Tyra cannot fly. The agents do arrange and assure security for a safe journey as we travel through multiple countries from Kenya to reach Morocco or Algeria, then take a ferry to Spain and continue to Ireland without flying. This journey will take many days from Kenya.

Alternatively, there’s a route through Egypt, involving a ship. Both serve as backup plans, as we will not return to Tanzania if Tyra cannot fly from Kenya.

We’re focused and optimistic about option 1, which involves flying from Kenya.

Funds Are Needed For:

How your help means to us

Any contribution to help bring Tyra home for school this August/Early September would mean the world to us and truly be appreciated. Reuniting Tyra with her younger siblings and having all my children under one roof again would bring us immense happiness. As a mother, the burden I’ve carried since Tyra first refused to fly, by walking out of that plane is indescribable. This happened while I was also dealing with my own health issue, which is under control. Tyra doesn't want to travel from Dar airport again, because of the route bad experience she encountered it is out of anyone's control but she is now OK with another airport and the nearest is Nairobi and has non-stop flight to near Ireland.

How We Will Receive Funds

GoFundMe will deposit the funds directly into my account (Irish bank account). I’ll use this account to pay for tickets, transport, and other expenses needed to bring Tyra home. I’ll keep you updated here.

P.S. I’ve shared photos taken in Dar Es Salaam 2023 and 2024. Be blessed and thank you for your support.