Single Mother Confronts Daunting £40,000 Expense Following Son’s Stroke During Disneyland Paris Birthday Trip

A single mother is grappling with a potential £40,000 medical expense after her son experienced a stroke during a celebratory trip to Disneyland Paris for his 18th birthday. Jodie Ankrett, alongside her children Leo Tomkinson and Mia, and their grandmother Tracy, embarked on their Parisian adventure on February 10. However, their joy was cut short when, two days into their holiday, Leo became unresponsive.

Emergency services were promptly called to their Disneyland hotel, leading to Leo’s urgent transfer to a local hospital’s intensive care unit. Jodie, 36, recounted the harrowing ordeal, noting that Leo was immediately placed on life support to stabilize his condition. Despite showing no prior signs of illness, Leo had suddenly fallen into a coma, which lasted for a week.

Leo’s return to the UK on February 28 was facilitated by a private ambulance service. Unfortunately, due to undisclosed pre-existing conditions like muscular dystrophy, Jodie’s travel insurance did not cover the hospital and repatriation expenses. As a result, she now faces a daunting bill estimated between £20,000 and £40,000, a financial burden she fears will follow her indefinitely, reported Stoke on Trent Live.

Currently, Leo’s recovery remains uncertain, with significant impairments in his ability to walk and speak. This uncertainty, coupled with the looming financial strain, has placed immense stress on Jodie, who had spent two years planning the birthday trip that ended in tragedy.

In light of this event, Jodie is keen on raising awareness about strokes, emphasizing that they can occur at any age, contrary to common belief. She was informed by medical professionals that Leo’s stroke was not related to his pre-existing condition, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of such health crises.

To alleviate some of the financial pressure, Jodie’s close friend Angel Martin initiated a GoFundMe campaign, which has garnered over £3,500 in donations. Touched by the gesture, Jodie expressed her deep gratitude for the support, emphasizing the comfort it brings during such a trying period.

The fundraising effort continues to welcome contributions, offering a glimmer of hope and solidarity for Jodie and her family as they navigate the challenging journey ahead.