Latest news with #GoFundMe
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Sad twist for Aussie desperate to leave Japan
A Melbourne man who has spent over a month in ICU in Japan was about to board a flight home when he was sent back to hospital. Tomas Zdanius, 57, was left paralysed on the right side of his body after what was meant to be a joyous trip turned into a nightmare when he suffered two heart attacks. He was rushed to ICU where he underwent procedures to unblock any blood clots in his brain. The photographer and DJ left for Japan in April and by May, he found himself hospital and hasn't been able to return home since. 'He is still hospitalised in Japan, unable to communicate well with family and friends, trapped in a hospital bed far from home,' his sister-in-law Tanya de Haan told A few weeks ago, Tomas made a turn for the better and with the generosity of those who donated to his GoFundMe, his family members were able to organise him a flight home. However, he never made it on the plane. 'Tom did not make it back to Australia as we had planned and hoped,' Ms de Haan said. 'Despite all our efforts, he struggled to sit up in the wheelchair provided. 'He was rushed back to the hospital in Japan before boarding the plane, and now the medical bills continue to escalate rapidly.' Ms de Haan described it as a 'nightmare situation', adding it has been incredibly challenging for Tom's family and friends. '[They] have been tirelessly trying to communicate with the hospital, facing language barriers that make everything even more difficult,' she said. 'Helping Tom recover has proven to be an extraordinary challenge. We are now faced with the urgent task of arranging a medical transfer and finding a suitable airline that can accommodate his needs.' What happened Tom was at his hotel room listening to music and writing in his journal - a passion that brought him peace of mind - when he suddenly felt dizzy. He took himself to the local hospital for a check-up after being concerned about his symptoms. 'The doctors ran their usual tests, and he was sent back home to his hotel with reassurance that he was fine,' Ms de Haan told 'But his symptoms worsened quickly, and he developed a mild stroke. An ambulance was called, rushing him to the hospital, where his condition quickly deteriorated; and he suffered a second, more severe stroke and lost consciousness.' Tomas was rushed to ICU at Iseikai International General Hospital in Osaka, where he underwent procedures to unblock any blood clots in his brain. Ms de Haan said the second stroke left him paralysed on the left side of his body and unable to speak or eat, relying on a feeding tube. 'No one realised how serious it was at first - we [then] understood that this was a life-altering event, one that required urgent action,' she explained. As of today, he remains in hospital as he undergoes rehabilitation. '[But] the longer it takes, the less chances he has of being able to walk talk and eat. 'He's been getting a little physiotherapy to help him sit, but they don't think it's going work sitting the whole flight, so we're trying to fly him laying down as the first attempt proved it was too much for him to sit,' Ms de Haan said. Ms de Haan said the first flight they tried to get him home on cost about $30,000 and 'we don't get that reimbursed'. 'They take out seats from a commercial flight (about nine rows).' So far, just over $40,000 has been raised but Ms Haan said the costs are mounting. 'While some say 'insurance will cover it', we've learned first-hand that this is often not the case until you are in the situation yourself,' she said. 'The expenses for medical flights, hospital bills, and ongoing care are overwhelming, and the financial strain is mounting each day.' Tom remains partially paralysed on one side of his body and face, Ms de Haan said. 'He is unable to eat solid food or speak clearly, though he is trying. Sitting up is a major milestone. 'The family is doing everything they can - trying to communicate across language barriers, co-ordinate medical care, and arrange the logistics of his return. Unfortunately, this process is complicated, costly, and time-sensitive. 'We are reaching out for support from our community once more to help us bring Tom home where he belongs, surrounded by loved ones.' Ms de Haan said the support so far has meant the world to them in 'helping us cover initial expenses and getting closer to the goal'. 'But we still need your help every donation, no matter how small, makes a significant difference.'
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Teenager dies after doing backflip to celebrate leaving home to 'start new life'
Sonny Blundell was celebrating moving out with his girlfriend. A teenager tragically died after doing a backflip to celebrate moving out of his family home to start a "new life". Sonny Blundell, 18, had just moved from New South Wales to Australia's Gold Coast with his girlfriend when tragedy struck on June 24. Australian media reported he was found "unresponsive" by his best friend in their living room. He was rushed to hospital and admitted to intensive care. He was placed into a medically-induced coma ahead of undergoing brain surgery, the Mirror reports. A fundraising page set up by his family explained he had suffered "multiple strokes" and a brain bleed requiring a drain. His older sister Izabella Cromack-Hay shared a heartbreaking update on Monday, June 30 confirming Sonny had died. She said the family has been left "in disbelief and major pain", and the GoFundMe donations will be used to bring his body home. She wrote: "Our beautiful Sonny has grown his wings and passed away 30/03/2007-30/6/2025. We are all in disbelief and major pain. I ask everyone to still support our family as we need to bring Sonny home as his sisters are waiting for him. "We are all here in Queensland trying our hardest to organize this horrible time and prepare ourselves. Please ask to donate for Sonny's Mum, his sisters, family and Sonny's funeral. Rest In Peace our Beautiful boy." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Izabella told Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph he had only recently moved away "to start a new life with his girlfriend." She said: "Moving to Queensland only a month ago, which was his greatest accomplishment, he worked the hardest concreting and making himself known." Izabella said her younger brother had FaceTimed her on the day of the incident, and he was celebrating moving to Southport beach with his best friend Mitchell Bullard when he did the backflip. She said Sonny hit his head on the ground and went to bed with a headache. But when he woke up, he went to the toilet vomiting and then passed out, Izabella said, which is when his best friend found him unresponsive in the morning. He was then taken to hospital where he sadly passed away on Monday. The GoFundMe page has raised $22,140 AUD (£10,680) so far, with a target of $28,000 AUD (£13,510). The fundraiser can be found here.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
‘Please pray' plea from family of brave Donegal boy getting treatment in the Netherlands for rare blood disorder
A BRAVE young Donegal boy is undergoing a life-saving bone marrow transplant in the Netherlands today. Advertisement 2 Zach and his family have recently travelled to the Netherlands to seek treatment for his rare disorder Credit: Family Handout The syndrome, which affects a person's bone marrow, progresses into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia if left untreated. His only chance of survival lies in a bone marrow transplant, which is not available in Ireland. The devastating health diagnosis came only a year after his mother Patrice was diagnosed with AML. The mother-of-four, who underwent chemotherapy and a bone transplant for her illness, still receives treatment. Advertisement READ MORE ON IRISH NEWS The family have since received a tremendous amount of support from relatives, friends and the local community in the last year and a half. Zach and his family And today his grandmother, Kateleen Rodgers posted online asking for support. She said: 'Please pray for my grandson Zach McCrossan today who is having his bone marrow transplant in the Netherlands and for his mammy Patrice as well.' Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Zach's is expected to remain an inpatient at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht, Netherlands for at least three months. Following his awful diagnosis a GoFundMe was set up in April by the family to cover the costs of Zach's treatment. FUNDS RAISED Within 24 hours the campaign raised over €122,500, smashing their target of €3,500. In response the family posted on social media saying: "Whether you donated, organised a fundraiser, offered a lift, dropped off meals, minded our other children, shared advice, or simply sent a message of encouragement Advertisement "We have felt every bit of your love and kindness. "It's because of you... our incredible circle of family, friends, neighbours, and strangers with big hearts... "That we're able to be by Zach's side as he begins treatment in the Princess Máxima Center in Utrecht." 2 Donegal native Zach McCrossan was recently diagnosed with a rare blood disorder known as Myelodysplastic Syndrome Credit: Family Handout Advertisement
Dublin Live
4 hours ago
- Health
- Dublin Live
Dublin mum fighting for life after accident caused by mosquito bite in Spain
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Dublin mum is fighting for her life after plummeting down hotel stairs and hitting her head in an accident caused by a mosquito bite in Spain. Emma Hickey and her partner Stephen Brougham took their two kids to Costa Adeje in Tenerife on June 13 for a sun-soaked 12-day getaway. Just 10 days into the trip, the Kilbarrack mum-of-two woke up with a 'really bad case' of mosquito bites, so went to hospital and was prescribed injections Despite feeling unwell for the next few days, the 42-year-old carer 'soldiered through the holiday' for the sake of her kids. But as they walked down the hotel staircase on their way to a pharmacy on June 23, Emma complained of feeling dizzy before suddenly collapsing - and falling head-first onto a concrete step. Stephen, 44, says it was 'horrific' to watch his partner convulsing on the concrete steps after passing out. She was immediately rushed to hospital. A hospital CT scan revealed the mum-of-two had a brain bleed and neck fractures, so she was put in an induced coma. A friend of the family has set up a GoFundMe page to support plasterer Stephen and his two kids, while they are stranded in Tenerife waiting for Emma to recover. The dad-of-two says it could be 'a very long time' until his partner is well enough to fly home and he is unsure if the travel insurance will cover the soaring medical costs. Stephen said: "We came away for a lovely family holiday and it's been a living nightmare. She woke up with a really bad case of mosquito bites so we went to the local doctor and the doctors didn't know what it was so they sent her to hospital. "The doctor there said they'd never seen a case of this mosquito bite in Spain before. She got a prescription and sent her away. For the next few days she wasn't feeling well but was soldiering through the holiday for the sake of the kids trying to do what she could but she wasn't herself." Stephen said that his wife went for a nap on the 23rd, leaving him to take the kids out to lunch. "She was up having a good sleep and she looked and seemed a lot better. She said she wouldn't go to the hospital but would walk out to a pharmacy and see what they thought," he continued. "We walked out the back entrance of the hotel as there's a shop and a pharmacy there. Street level is probably about four or five storeys up. She was feeling a bit dizzy and she collapsed and fell from the second last step of the upper staircase down below onto the other set of stairs head-first without raising her arm to protect herself. "She passed out on the steps and started convulsing, she was in a terrible state. It's been horrific because I actually witnessed the fall and how bad the fall was. That's a mental scar that I'll never forget. Words can't describe how bad it is." Stephen called an ambulance, which rushed his partner to hospital. A CT scan showed she had suffered a brain bleed and needed an operation. Doctors discovered some fractures in her neck. She was then put in an induced coma and will remain in intensive care until she wakes up. Stephen said: "They did an operation and there were blood clots on the brain that had been putting some pressure on the brain. They're not saying what impact the pressure on the brain of the blood clot will have after she comes round. "There could be secondary issues there so in the meantime she's just been on the machine. She hasn't felt well all week so we can only presume that the mosquito bites, the medication, the heat and the fact she tried to soldier through the holiday just for the sake of the kids [caused it]. "They were draining the life out of her and they're all over her body, dozens and dozens. They looked uncomfortable and you could see that they were sore. They turned into bruises. I can only connect the two." Stephen, who is self-employed, and is searching for alternative accommodation for him and children Sophie, 13, and Bobby, 7, while they wait for Emma to recover. He is hoping the travel insurance will help the rising medical costs after reviewing her medical records. "We know that hospital is $1,400 (£1,022) a day so we're going to have a significant medical bill. The hotel we're staying in at the moment is an expensive hotel. Then just feeding the kids and keeping them occupied. I'm not working now because I'm over here," he said. He's now encouraging others to ensure they get travel insurance and to be aware of the dangers of insects abroad. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Teen dies following horror housewarming accident on the Gold Coast
Sonny John Orlando Blundell died after hitting in his head in the loungeroom of his new apartment, after doing a backflip. The 18-year-old was found unresponsive on June 24. He suffered several strokes on the night before having brain surgery. Mr Blundell sadly died on Monday, June 30. His sister Izabella Cromack-Hay said on GoFundMe: 'We are all in disbelief and major pain.' Ms Cromack-Hay told The Courier Mail her brother was about to embark on a new chapter with his girlfriend, after recently moving from the Central Coast in New South Wales to Queensland's Southport. 'He was celebrating moving into the Meriton on Southport beach with his best friend Mitchell Bullard when he did a backflip and hit his head,' she said. 'He hit his head in the lounge room on the ground and had a headache went to bed, woke up went to the toilet vomiting and then passed out that's when his best friend found him unresponsive in the morning. 'Moving to Queensland only a month ago, which was his greatest accomplishment, he worked the hardest concreting and making himself known.' Ms Cromack-Hay said Mr Blundell was the kindest, loving and nurturing man you could have met. She told the masthead they had facetimed on the day before he hit his head. Mr Blundell's sister now is aiming to bring him back home to his sisters in New South Wales. 'I ask everyone to still support our family as we need to bring Sonny home as his sisters are waiting for him,' she said on GoFundMe. 'We are all here in Queensland trying our hardest to organise this horrible time and prepare ourselves.' A fundraiser is open on GoFundMe to raise a target of $28,000 for "Sonny's Mum, his sisters, family, and Sonny's funeral". So far, just under $22,000 has been raised from 394 donations.
