Mum, 33, Awakens from Coma After Meningitis Scare in Tenerife Airport
A mother who was fighting for her life in a Tenerife hospital after suddenly falling ill at the airport has now awoken from a coma, according to a family update posted on a fundraiser. Jade Bird, 33, from Abergele, was due to fly home from Tenerife last Wednesday, March 18, but became critically unwell at the airport, leading to a terrifying ordeal for her loved ones.
Horror Airport Scenes and Medical Emergency
Jade, a carer, had traveled to Tenerife with her boyfriend for a holiday. During the trip, she began complaining of earache and started vomiting. When they arrived at the airport to return home, she was unable to communicate and was screaming in pain, prompting an emergency rush to the hospital.
Doctors performed a CT scan and discovered an infection on her brain, which had developed into meningitis. She was immediately transferred to an intensive care unit in the north of Tenerife, placed on a ventilator, and put into an induced coma. Her sister-in-law, Victoria, flew to Spain to be by her side during this critical time.
Family's Emotional Struggle and Financial Burden
Victoria described the harrowing situation, noting concerns about potential seizures, epilepsy, memory loss, and paralysis, with the full extent of Jade's condition still unknown until she fully wakes up. In a recent GoFundMe update, the family shared that Jade has begun to come around and is much more alert and aware of her surroundings.
However, she remains hospitalized and faces a significant financial hurdle. The family was quoted £46,000 for a medical evacuation back to the UK, despite claiming she has appropriate insurance. Jade, who has a young daughter named Skyla, will be moved to a neurological ward for a full assessment and is expected to need IV antibiotics before she can travel home.
Challenges with Communication and Support
Victoria and Jade's mother flew out to Tenerife the morning after learning of the incident. They expressed the immense stress of the situation, including a language barrier that limits updates to once a day and the emotional toll of explaining to Skyla that her mother is in the hospital.
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of Jade's flight home, which has raised £12,000 so far. They emphasized the long road ahead but are grateful for the public's kindness, stating they are prepared to do whatever it takes to bring Jade back safely.
In their words, the family said: We're overwhelmed with all the kindness. People have been so thoughtful and everybody has pulled together to raise money to get Jade home, and we don't think that any words will ever thank them enough.
