This GoFundMe is for my parents: Michael and Astrid Talbott to help with the already piling up financial burden stemming from my Dad’s cardiac arrest on their 40th Anniversary Royal Caribbean Cruise.

Royal Caribbean is currently attempting to charge my mom’s credit card for a very large sum for my dad’s medical care instead of billing at a later time like an Emergency Department would. So not only is there the cost of his care but credit card interest on it as well! Since he is a veteran we are trying to work out if any of this will be covered by the VA. My mom is currently trudging through shuttles and the Airport in Vancouver trying to get home and then to my Dad. My Dad needs her but he has a team of the best medical professionals taking care of him, meanwhile my mom is alone. she just watched her spouse die in front of her and be resuscitated. She is being sent bills already and Royal Caribbean also attempted to make her sign a promissory note for the costs of the medical evacuation which should be free for taxpayers according to the Coast Guard and USAF. She needs immediate help with accommodations as her flights have been delayed and the hospital my dad is at will not allow her to stay overnight in his room. Plus there is the cost of getting to and from the airport and hospital and hotel, meals, basic needs, all while she navigates this alone. (My brother is staying home to care for their home and pets and I would be with my Dad in a heartbeat but I have my two small children that I cannot just pick up and move).

anything helps!

$10 buys her lunch

$20 refunds the cost of her shuttle

$100 pays for a single night in a hotel so she can be by my dads side

she is also waiting on reimbursements for my dad’s flight and the day trip they were supposed to take in Vancouver but sadly never could.

I just want to thank each and every person who reached out. Who called and texted and commented to share your love and support.

UPDATE ON DAD: He is alive!!! He is extubated (off the ventilator). He got 3 stents in his heart. He is, against all odds, off of any vasoactive medication or ICU drip except something to keep him a little calm and drowsy. If you know my dad he CANNOT sit still. He wants to be up and moving around and they need to keep him relaxed so there is that. They are hopeful to transfer him out of the ICU soon. As an ICU nurse myself who takes cardiac patients, I cannot stress enough how incredible and unlikely this update is. THANK YOU! To everyone who thought about us and prayed and sent good positive thoughts and feelings our way!!!!

original story:

Mom and Dad were on a dream cruise from Hawaii to Vancouver celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary when it became a nightmare. A few days ago, My dad suffered a cardiac arrest onboard the cruise ship as they were making their way to Vancouver and still several sailing days away from port. He was successfully resuscitated with excellent and immediate CPR and the use of an AED. He was then moved to the medical unit onboard the ship for stabilization. The ship then altered their course and hauled ass for the California coast. They burned up some serious fuel! And through an enormous combined effort by the US Coast Guard and US Air National Guard my dad was evacuated from the ship by helicopter and flown to a hospital in California where he is now, safe and stable in the ICU.

We have no idea how long this road will be. First priority is my Dad’s healing and getting him more stable and out of the ICU. And supporting my Mom after what was an incredibly traumatic experience, and a long road ahead for her as well as she supports my dad. Next priority is how can we get him back to Texas? Finally and less important, but still a cause of great concern, is the financial ramifications on our family for all of this. And I know that may become a large barrier to bringing him home as emergency evacs are one thing, but to bring him to Texas when it’s not medically necessary is different, and something we will have to figure out.

For now, I just want to surround my parents with love and support. They are currently still separated and each of them is going through this individually as we are working to reunite them as quickly as possible. Please keep us in your thoughts and send all the positive vibes. For my Mom, to have safe travels to my Dad and for her physical, mental, and emotional health. And for my Dad, to remain stable and improve in his condition, and also for physical and emotional healing. We have lots of good signs and I know all too well how his condition could be so much worse. So we are so incredibly thankful for the fact that he is still with us and praying to God for some steady improvements.