Heartbroken daughter desperate to fly bedridden dad home from Thailand

[webfact]

Peter Thurgood, 74, moved to Thailand around 15 years ago (Image: Trina Sanders)

 

Peter's life came crashing down after he went into a diabetic coma

Abigail Nicholson, Senior Night Reporter

 

A desperate daughter is struggling to get her bedridden dad back to the UK from Thailand.

 

Peter Thurgood, 74, moved to Thailand around 15 years ago and had been 'living his dream' in the sun.

 

But his life came crashing down after being rushed to hospital in October 2020 after he went into a diabetic coma.

 

Doctors said his heart was failing and he needed to have a pacemaker fitted.

 

Due to him being abroad it took a few days for the family to pay £27,000 for the operation and get paperwork signed by his daughter, Trina Sanders who lives in Birkenhead.

 

Trina said: "It [Peter becoming ill] all came completely out of the blue, when his girlfriend, Pong, rang us we were just in shock.

 

"All went well and he started to come out of his coma.

 

Full story: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/heartbroken-daughter-desperate-fly-bedridden-21439771

 

-- © Copyright  Liverpool Echo 2021-09-01

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[tonray]

Very sad but again another case of thinking you can just ignore insurance and jump on a plane to avail yourself of NHS care when you get sick. A lesson for some of us here I hope.

[djayz]

27 thousand quid for an operation!?!? Surely that must be THB 27,000, no? 

 

Edited September 1, 2021 by djayz

[JoePai]

7 minutes ago, djayz said:

27 thousand quid for an operation!?!? Surely that must be THB 27,000, no? 

 

You must be a newbie if you ask that

[RJRS1301]

28 minutes ago, djayz said:

27 thousand quid for an operation!?!? Surely that must be THB 27,000, no? 

 

No, I am sure that would be the cost involved, heart surgery is expensive even in Thailand.

I wonder how they think they will pay the the ongoing care given to him since the pacemaker.

Even if they can get him on a flight for medical evacuation that will cost minimum 50,000 GBP , hope the family have deep pockets. 

He is bedridden, has paralysis, vascular dementia.

Hate to sound hard, however seems like poor investment, for a very questionable quality of life, can he express his needs or the family just reacting at an emotional level?

Edited September 1, 2021 by RJRS1301

[ignis]

52 minutes ago, tonray said:

Very sad but again another case of thinking you can just ignore insurance and jump on a plane to avail yourself of NHS care when you get sick. A lesson for some of us here I hope.

Just ignore insurance ? some of us have to

 

If he was a diabetic already then insurance would have been no use, as this would be classed as a pre existing condition therefore not covered.

[HAPPYNUFF]

If it was only  27000  quid for a pacemaker, in Thailand,     it was very cheap.    If you believe medical treatment  is not expensive here, you obviously havent read the  price list   that is  for farangs, as opposed to the price for Thais.

[AwwYesNice1]

oH Dear! - I sure hope the old boi has sufficient life insurance. 

[RJRS1301]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

Very sad but again another case of thinking you can just ignore insurance and jump on a plane to avail yourself of NHS care when you get sick. A lesson for some of us here I hope.

Have you checked the price of health insurance for those over 70 especially with pre-existing conditions, which his diabetes would have been.

I have no conditions what ever, turned the magic 70 yrs and insurance rose by 80%

[tonray]

3 minutes ago, ignis said:

Just ignore insurance ? some of us have to

 

If he was a diabetic already then insurance would have been no use, as this would be classed as a pre existing condition therefore not covered.

Said he arrived here 15 years ago...perhaps he had a chance when he was not ill...seemed to say it was all a suprise to him @ 74 years of age.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Trina said: "It [Peter becoming ill] all came completely out of the blue, when his girlfriend, Pong, rang us we were just in shock.

 

[tonray]

2 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Have you checked the price of health insurance for those over 70 especially with pre-existing conditions, which his diabetes would have been.

I have no conditions what ever, turned the magic 70 yrs and insurance rose by 80%

been here since age 59 "living his dream in the  sun" as his daughter states

[RJRS1301]

3 minutes ago, tonray said:

been here since age 59 "living his dream in the  sun" as his daughter states

Then allow him to die with whatever skerrick of dignity left to him. 

[tonray]

Just now, RJRS1301 said:

Then allow him to die with whatever skerrick of dignity left to him. 

That would have been all well and good except for the daughter's GoFundMe page already set up

[ezzra]

Most of us don't think that these days where we will need such an expensive care will come, "we'll cross that bridge when we get to it" we keep saying to ourselves, and when the day come, most of the time it's too late for any insurance company to insure you...

[GinBoy2]

This story exposes that dirty underlying truth that many try to ignore.

 

Getting old in Thailand is a risky business.

 

Many guys arrive in their late 50's early 60's, still relatively good health, off to enjoy the 'good' life.

 

What they push to the back of their mind is the fact that like it or not when you get into your 60's and later, stuff happens and you do get sick.

 

In Western countries, even in the much maligned US system after 65 social medicine kicks in, and you will be taken care of.

 

The reverse is true in Thailand, where as insurance companies do, the premiums increase with age as the risk of you actually needing it increases to the point that you can't afford it anyway.

 

The idea of becoming incapacitated or infirm in Thailand always filled me with terror

[ignis]

Health insurance companies want your money, hate to pay any claim

 

Had Health insurance many years ago, had to go to Hospital large kidney stone, Insurance refused to pay - reason anything to do with kidney's is related to being Diabetic, so had to pay myself. and have done for all the years since then + been to hospital a good few times since...

 

Note..  diabetic coma = blood sugar over 600 or under 60......  myself built in body alarm under 65 get the shakes + cold sweat [yep a good few times over the years]  over 450 feel very unwell [highest I have been is 530 in 2015]  since then 100% vital to check your BS at least every day + if you feel strange or unwell

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

Very sad but again another case of thinking you can just ignore insurance and jump on a plane to avail yourself of NHS care when you get sick. A lesson for some of us here I hope.

Most insurance one can obtain in Thailand would not cover this completely, and likely not be renewed too.  Yes a lesson here....

[Whale]

Read the linked article. He has been going downhill for quite a long time, his initial coma was a year ago. Now he has a raft of serious issues including Parkinsons and stroke paralysis. They want him to go home to essentially be with him when he passes. 

It's very sad, As I am the same age as him and have had both a heart attack and a stroke already I have great sympathy for their situation. It's why I am leaving Thailand myself (before the inevitable).

They cannot afford to pay the care home expenses after another 6 weeks. Its about 120,000 baht a month for his care.

 

Am not sure how the airline are going to get him on the plane as he has paralysis. She is not asking for the air ambulance but for 10K (GBP) for her to go and pick him up and come back.

Edited September 1, 2021 by Whale

[RJRS1301]

2 minutes ago, Whale said:

Read the linked article. He has been in care for a long time, his initial coma was a year ago. Now he has a raft of serious issues including Parkinsons and stroke paralysis. They want him to go home to essentially be with him when he passes. 

It's very sad, As I am the same age as him and have had both a heart attack and a stroke already I have great sympathy for their situation. It's why I am leaving Thailand myself (before the inevitable).

They cannot afford to pay the care home expenses after another 6 weeks. Its about 120,000 baht a month for his care.

 

Am not sure how the airline are going to get him on the plane as he has paralysis. She is not asking for the air ambulance but for 10K (GBP) for her to go and pick him up and come back.

Doubt he will be able to obtain Fit to Fly clearances , perhaps the family need have a reality check.

 

[Henryford]

If he ever got back to the Uk and went in a NHS hospital that would finish him off.

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, RJRS1301 said:

Doubt he will be able to obtain Fit to Fly clearances , perhaps the family need have a reality check.

 

Sadly true, and 10k will not cover it. I would suspect some hospital bills in the wings too. 

[Blumpie]

What a sad story.  

We all have to go sometime and sometimes your life quality will be very poor despite a life saving operation or procedure.  It is not something that is pleasant to talk about or to consider.  

I feel very very badly for his family and for him, or what's left of him.  

[Whale]

2 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Doubt he will be able to obtain Fit to Fly clearances , perhaps the family need have a reality check.

I agree, I also read the gofundme. I am not sure they have thought it through but simply don't have the money for his care. 

Terrible situation to be in, he is knackered and there is no more money.

[RJRS1301]

Just now, Blumpie said:

What a sad story.  

We all have to go sometime and sometimes your life quality will be very poor despite a life saving operation or procedure.  It is not something that is pleasant to talk about or to consider.  

I feel very very badly for his family and for him, or what's left of him.  

That is why it can be advantageous to have  the equivalent of an Advanced Care Directive in place with knowledge from family that such a document exists, 

[Blumpie]

Just now, RJRS1301 said:

That is why it can be advantageous to have  the equivalent of an Advanced Care Directive in place with knowledge from family that such a document exists, 

Oh absolutely.  

When I turn 70 I am not taking any medication at all and nature will take its course.  I see too many people who are shells of themselves and live in misery.  It's a horrible situation and I'm not so sure that living a long life, for some people, is worth it.  For the ones you see out and about it definetly IS worth it but they are not the norm.  And it can all come to an end like this poor unfortunate man.  

[GinBoy2]

8 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Doubt he will be able to obtain Fit to Fly clearances , perhaps the family need have a reality check.

 

Well he will never be cleared to fly on a regular flight.

 

So then you are down to medivac flights. And if you think it's been expensive up to this point, hold on to your hats for a whole new level of hurt!

[Blumpie]

3 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Thanks.... charity would seem to be his only option...... 

In his current condition, acting unstable, he could not travel on a regular flight. 

Not unless he was tied down.  

By the way, your avatar freaks me out, LOL!  At first glance it doesn't look like a turtle but something bloody obscene!  

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, Blumpie said:

Not unless he was tied down.  

By the way, your avatar freaks me out, LOL!  At first glance it doesn't look like a turtle but something bloody obscene!  

It is actually a Tookay.....

[theoldgit]

Nonsense troll post reported and removed

[Whale]

30 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

Well he will never be cleared to fly on a regular flight.

 

So then you are down to medivac flights. And if you think it's been expensive up to this point, hold on to your hats for a whole new level of hurt!

The quote was anywhere between 100K and 140K GBP. Having read the description of his many conditions in the gofundme I can't see how they can move him without the air ambulance.