Stroke and heart attack victim left with million dollar bill after taking ill in America

An Aberdeenshire grandpa has been left with one million greenback medical invoice after struggling a stroke and coronary heart assault when visiting his ailing granddaughter within the USA.

Ever since Hugh Drysdale’s six-year-old granddaughter Kyla was recognized with medulloblastoma mind most cancers, he has tried to be there to help her and household.

He even wrote to a number of public figures when trying to get his wife over to the USA to support the family during Covid and has began writing a e book to share Kyla’s story.

This was no totally different final September, when Kyla’s six month evaluation was due.

‘Trapped in hospital’ for 2 months with enormous invoice

Mr Drysdale, shortly flew over to assist on the nine-hour automotive journey to the hospital from the household’s residence.

Nonetheless, in the future when taking part in together with his grandchildren, Mr Drysdale began having a coughing match and couldn’t breathe.

“What in all probability transpired was I had a coronary heart assault,” he mentioned. “I used to be turning blue and I additionally had a stroke.

“So we ended up kind of two months trapped in a hospital in Pensacola, Florida the place for the time being my hospital invoice is within the area of one million {dollars} however the journey insurance coverage wangled their approach out of it.”

The 67-year-old had been recognized with atrial fibrillation a couple of months earlier which might result in strokes.

Nonetheless, Mr Drysdale mentioned he booked his flight in a rush to assist the household out and easily renewed the journey insurance coverage forgetting so as to add the brand new analysis.

He mentioned he’s nonetheless battling with the insurance coverage firm over the medical payments.

‘If she will be able to combat all she has been via then so shall I’

Throughout his time in hospital, he mentioned Kyla was his “tonic” and his “mini therapist”.

Coming to go to him throughout his 50 days keep in hospital together with her brother Kaydn, Mr Drysdale mentioned seeing her “lifted his spirits”.

“I used to be within the authentic hospital that she bought her operation in,” he mentioned.

“She was my mini therapist. She would play video games on the finish of the mattress and maintain me firm.

“Kyla at all times lifted my spirits and introduced a smile to my face. I assumed if she will be able to combat all she has been via then so shall I.”

Has a second coronary heart assault after arriving in Scotland

When he was capable of fly again to Aberdeen together with his spouse on Tuesday, November 15, Mr Drysdale mentioned he was admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) right away.

After being discharged on the Thursday, he began to have chest pains.

“I bought residence in my very own mattress at 7pm at evening,” he mentioned. At 11pm I ended up having chest pains so the medics have been referred to as and I used to be having a coronary heart assault.”

The Newtonhill resident needed to have surgical procedure and was taken to ward 106 the place he mentioned he bought “firstclass” therapy.

Since then, Mr Drysdale who works in IT, has been off work and has been having bodily remedy.

Regardless of having a “little bit of a tough experience” over the past yr, he mentioned: “When you think about what Kyla’s been via, I couldn’t let the aspect down. I’ve bought to indicate Kyla I can do that.”

He mentioned Kyla will at all times be vulnerable to most cancers however seems to be responding to therapy properly and is recovering.

Describing her as his “warrior princess”, Mr Drysdale mentioned he and spouse facetime Kyla and household almost each day and have deliberate a complete household journey to Orlando subsequent yr.

He mentioned he was actually wanting ahead to it and added: “It offers me one thing to work in the direction of.”