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Mum's retirement nightmare: Paralyzed in Cambodia
18 Sep
Summary
- Grandmother paralyzed from neck down due to dengue complications.
- Medical costs exceeded £7,000 in the first 10 days.
- She can now move her eyes and mouth, showing improvement.
A 60-year-old woman's retirement in Cambodia took a dire turn after contracting a severe case of dengue fever. Helena Kreuger became paralyzed from the neck down, necessitating mechanical ventilation and intensive care.
Her condition was attributed to rare complications where her immune system attacked her own nervous system, causing quadriplegia and respiratory failure. Doctors diagnosed Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Heinrich Kreuger, her son in Oxfordshire, is supporting his mother from afar while awaiting his passport renewal. He has launched a GoFundMe to cover the substantial medical expenses, which surpassed £7,000 within the first ten days.
Helena has since shown notable improvement, responding to stimuli and regaining some voluntary movement. Successful airway surgery and immunotherapy have been administered, offering a more optimistic outlook for her recovery and eventual independent breathing and walking.
