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My son saved for two years to take me on a European trip -- my first vacation in nearly ten years! We've had a horrible year--my breast cancer scare, his father's open heart surgery, cataract surgeries in both my eyes, and worst of all, the death of our beloved Irish Terrier dog, Keeley.
Our trip was going to be to 5 cities: Belfast, Dublin, Paris, Barcelona and Berlin! We started in Belfast, Northern Ireland on July 3rd. We saw the tall ship festival and then went to Giant's Causeway the next day, July 4th. It was beautiful! I had always wanted to see this natural wonder. After a few hours on the Stones, I lost my footing and fell. I tumbled forward downhill towards the cliff, but my son was able to catch me from falling further. Unfortunately, I broke my right ankle. The Coast Guard and paramedics were called and I had to be stretchered off the Stones. Thanks to the Coast Guard for this, as evacuating me was treacherous. See photo. I was taken to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine and the doctors there tried to set the broken bone and apply a plaster cast. It took two tries and the only anesthetic was gas. Very painful. I was sent to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where they tried resetting the bone again and applying another new cast. This time I had morphine plus the gas to anesthetize me. It still hurt, but not nearly so. I needed surgery to insert a plate and screw to hold the bone in place and I didn't have the money for the operation to be done in Ireland, so I decided to come home. Also, I worried that if I had the surgery overseas, I would not be able to travel home for weeks which would be a problem at work (which is how I have health insurance). Then followed three days of wrangling with the travel agency we bought our tickets from and the airlines. Finally made it home on Friday, July 10 and expect to have surgery on July 14. We had to cancel our trip at a loss of nearly $5,000 and pay for first class airfare back because I had to keep my foot elevated, due to the break and swelling and being in a cast and the increased possibility of getting a dangerous blood clot. Return airfare cost more than $5,400. If you can, please help me recoup these unexpected expenses. I wish I was financially able to absorb these losses, but I am not. We are just a working class family without a cushion. I had to borrow the money from other family and friends and would like to repay these debts. Thank you for reading this, even if you are unable to help.
Our trip was going to be to 5 cities: Belfast, Dublin, Paris, Barcelona and Berlin! We started in Belfast, Northern Ireland on July 3rd. We saw the tall ship festival and then went to Giant's Causeway the next day, July 4th. It was beautiful! I had always wanted to see this natural wonder. After a few hours on the Stones, I lost my footing and fell. I tumbled forward downhill towards the cliff, but my son was able to catch me from falling further. Unfortunately, I broke my right ankle. The Coast Guard and paramedics were called and I had to be stretchered off the Stones. Thanks to the Coast Guard for this, as evacuating me was treacherous. See photo. I was taken to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine and the doctors there tried to set the broken bone and apply a plaster cast. It took two tries and the only anesthetic was gas. Very painful. I was sent to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where they tried resetting the bone again and applying another new cast. This time I had morphine plus the gas to anesthetize me. It still hurt, but not nearly so. I needed surgery to insert a plate and screw to hold the bone in place and I didn't have the money for the operation to be done in Ireland, so I decided to come home. Also, I worried that if I had the surgery overseas, I would not be able to travel home for weeks which would be a problem at work (which is how I have health insurance). Then followed three days of wrangling with the travel agency we bought our tickets from and the airlines. Finally made it home on Friday, July 10 and expect to have surgery on July 14. We had to cancel our trip at a loss of nearly $5,000 and pay for first class airfare back because I had to keep my foot elevated, due to the break and swelling and being in a cast and the increased possibility of getting a dangerous blood clot. Return airfare cost more than $5,400. If you can, please help me recoup these unexpected expenses. I wish I was financially able to absorb these losses, but I am not. We are just a working class family without a cushion. I had to borrow the money from other family and friends and would like to repay these debts. Thank you for reading this, even if you are unable to help.