A HOLIDAYMAKER is fighting for life in hospital after food from her hotel allegedly left her vomiting so violently she burst her food pipe.
Ronni Douglas was three days into her all-inclusive £4,000 TUI trip to Bodrum, Turkey, when she started to feel unwell.
The 26-year-old, from Birmingham, had severe stomach pains and began throwing up uncontrollably.
Unable to keep food down, Ronni was rushed to A&E, where doctors diagnosed her with a perforated oesophagus – a hole in the muscular tube our food travels through on its way to the stomach.
She was left in a critical condition.
Ronni’s sister Fallon Douglas told BirminghamLive: “She’s not in a good way at the minute.
“Right now, Ronni needs every ounce of strength and support she can get to pull through this terrifying ordeal.”
Ronni flew to Bodrum for a week-long holiday on August 12 with her mum Dawn and two young nieces and nephews.
She ate exclusively in the four-star hotel and three days into the getaway, she started experiencing painful stomach aches and vomiting.
“She was throwing up constantly and wasn’t eating anything, and she hadn’t been to the toilet for days,” Fallon said.
“She was taken back to a local clinic which found she had a perforated oesophagus and an infection.”
The serious condition is usually caused by medical procedures or prolonged vomiting and forceful retching, according to Cleveland Clinic.
When the wall is torn, food, chemicals and bacteria can escape into the chest, which can cause inflammation, infections and other life-threatening complications, it adds.
Due to her state, Ronni was admitted to hospital and her family are now scrambling to meet the “staggering” costs of her medical care.
They said they were already facing a £5,000 bill for her initial treatment and potential surgery, but this could soar as she must stay in Turkey until she is well enough to travel.
Dawn has reportedly spent almost £1,000 on flying Ronni’s niece and nephew back to the UK, but she expects to spend another £5,000 for further care.
This is the most challenging time our family has ever faced
Dawn
Dawn said: “I have had no choice but to return home with our young niece and nephew, leaving Ronni in the ICU, thousands of miles away.
“The heartbreak of having to leave her side, not knowing what the future holds, is indescribable.
“I desperately need to get back out to her once the children are safe at home with relatives.”
Fallon, who says they need “all the help they can get” after a travel insurance mix-up, has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs.
She said: “What started as a family holiday in Turkey has turned into an unimaginable nightmare, and we need your help more than ever.
“The language barrier is a big problem so we don’t really know how much the final bill is going to cost.
“It’s a very serious condition, Ronni needs emergency treatment.
“She is too ill to be moved so we need to raise money for her treatment at the hospital which will add to the cost.
“Yesterday was a very stressful day and today is worse because no one is there with her at the minute.
“My niece and nephew are too young to really understand what was going on.
“We’d be very grateful for any help the public can give us.”
Dawn added: “The medical expenses are mounting as she continues to fight for her life in the ICU.
“Your donations, no matter the amount, will make a tangible difference in ensuring she gets the treatment she desperately needs.
“This is the most challenging time our family has ever faced, and knowing that we have a community of people who care gives us hope and strength.”
Fallon said the family mistakenly travelled to Turkey without insurance after assuming it was included in their TUI package.
They added it two days into their holiday, but by then it was too late.
