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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Ryan Smith

Benidorm holiday nightmare for Belfast family as mum left seriously ill

A Belfast mum has been left seriously ill after taking a stroke while on a family holiday in Benidorm.

Leta McCaw, 48, was on holiday with her partner Nicola, and 14-year-old son, William when she took a sudden pain in her head and collapsed.

Her nephew Stuart McCaw told Belfast Live that the Shankill Road woman hasn't yet regained consciousness and the family is desperately doing all they can to help.

He said: “They had two wonderful days and then Leta took terrible pains in her head and collapsed on July 12.

"They took her to hospital in Alicante by ambulance. She had a bleed in the brain, which caused a stroke.

"She had to have surgery to remove part of her skull as her brain was severely swelling.

"Since she collapsed in the apartment she has not regained consciousness and has been heavily sedated.

"She has since developed an infection in her lungs which they are trying to treat with antibiotics. She is breathing through a ventilator at the minute and not breathing for herself. They don’t know the extent of the damage until they start to lift the sedation but they can’t do that yet as she isn’t well enough."

Leta’s daughter Sarah, 27, has flown out with her uncle, William to be by her side.

Stuart added: “Her partner Nicola has been there since it happened. We are all going to have to take it in turns going out to be with her. My sister is going next week and I will be going when she returns."

The family is fundraising to help with costs while they wait to see what their insurance will cover.

Stuart said: "Ultimately the money will be going towards covering travel expenses for family to and from Benidorm. We aren't aware what the travel insurance are covering, if anything. We are hoping and praying she comes out of the sedation and when she does the money will go towards getting her home as well."

You can donate to their fundraising appeal, which was set up by Leta's daughter's friend Michelle, here.

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