A Maryland woman’s dream vacation to Central America turned into a nightmare after she suffered a stroke — and is now trapped in a foreign country.
Kalin Rytina has been bedridden in a Panama hospital for nearly two weeks while her family scrambles to cover the $45,000 in medical bills that continue to climb, her worried loved ones told the Baltimore Sun.
The otherwise healthy woman had been in the country on a layover while traveling back home from a romantic getaway to Guatemala when the 28-year-old lost consciousness.
She was rushed to the Pacífica Salud Hospital’s intensive care unit, where she was diagnosed with a stroke and a blood clot.
Rytina’s insurance has allegedly done little to help offset the exorbitant costs of her medical care, and her family’s desperate pleas have not been answered by the US government, they claim.
The U.S. Embassy in Panama “has been zero help, to be honest with you,” her father, Mike Rytina, told the Baltimore Sun.
“I thought they could help us out, being a US citizen and all,” he continued, saying the embassy only offered to help them get a return flight home — but that they couldn’t foot the bill for the tickets.
Rytina’s loved ones established an online fundraiser in a desperate attempt to pare down the escalating bills.
As of Saturday, nearly $40,000 of its $100,000 goal was raised.
“What started as an unexpected medical emergency has led to a series of tests, treatments, and new discoveries that continue to add to the financial burden. As doctors learn more about Kalin’s condition and identify additional medical needs, the bills continue to accumulate,” her friend, Megan Wright, wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Rytina’s neurological injuries were severe enough that she’ll likely need intensive rehabilitation to relearn skills upon returning home, the fundraiser said.
The medical drama is especially shocking for the family, who said Rytina was horseback riding with her boyfriend in Guatemala just days before the sudden stroke.
She was also “totally healthy,” Mike told the outlet, adding that doctors haven’t figured out what caused the medical issues.
“It was really heartbreaking in the beginning, when your vibrant, young, healthy child is suddenly finding it hard to speak,” Mike said of his daughter, who works as an enrollment coordinator at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.
She’s made some progress in recent days, the family said, saying that she’s been able to take medicine orally, “has been up and moving around, and has even been able to watch a little bit of the World Cup.”
Mike and his daughter, Madi, flew to Panama to be with Rytina.
The family hopes to fly her back to Maryland on Sunday, which would mark two weeks since the stroke.
The State Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment, but told the Baltimore Sun that the Consular Services team in DC had been in contact with the family.
“Our American Citizen Services team has provided them with support and resources, including information about the full range of assistance that the U.S. Embassy is authorized to provide to U.S. citizens who are hospitalized abroad,” the spokesperson said.
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