UK Toddler Fights for Life in Mexico—Family Trapped Until They Pay £100,000

A British family is facing a nightmare holiday from hell after their 19-month-old daughter suffered a brain haemorrhage in Mexico—and they can’t bring her home without paying over £100,000 in medical bills.

Little Sienna-Rose had been enjoying a family break in Cancun last week when the unthinkable happened. She was playing with her two brothers at the resort when she suddenly collapsed. Her mother, 31-year-old Natasha Sargeant, described the terrifying moment her daughter “dropped to the floor like she was having a seizure” before she started “constantly vomiting”, reported the Express.

Panicked, the family rushed her to the hospital, only to be hit with more setbacks. The first two hospitals either had broken equipment or demanded extortionate fees before even running a scan. By the time they found a third hospital that could help, Sienna-Rose had already vomited around 50 times. When doctors finally diagnosed her with a brain haemorrhage, the situation became even more urgent.

“The surgeon came back to me and said, ‘We need to operate now. Her brain has swelled double in size and she’s got a lot of fluids on there,'” Natasha told ITV. “So, the question in my head was, ‘Is she going to die?’ They said, ‘She won’t die from the procedure, but if you don’t do this operation, she is going to die.'”

Sienna-Rose underwent emergency surgery and is now recovering in a hospital in Cancun. But the family’s relief was short-lived. Despite having medical insurance, an unrelated previous hospital stay meant their policy wouldn’t cover the costs. With the hospital bills and the cost of an air ambulance to get Sienna-Rose home, they’ve been left with a staggering £100,000 bill.

Desperate for help, Natasha turned to social media, and the response has been overwhelming. So far, over £50,000 has been raised through an online fundraiser, with complete strangers rallying to support the family.

“These people don’t know us,” Natasha said tearfully. “For them to support us as much as they are is absolutely amazing.” Despite the incredible generosity, they’re still only halfway to their target, and the financial burden has left them stuck in limbo, unable to leave Mexico while they try to raise the rest of the money.

“I don’t have any words to describe what we have been through,” Natasha told the Liverpool Echo. “She is the most happy, lovely little baby. To see her like this is absolutely horrendous. I would never wish what we are going through on anyone.”

Now, as they watch their daughter fight to recover, the family is holding onto hope that they can gather enough support to finally bring her home.