Olivia North was rushed to hospital in Goa, India, after being involved in a road collision and her dad Nic has detailed the huge costs involved in the 21-year-old’s recovery
A student’s memory has been wiped after she was left with a severe brain injury following a scooter accident while on a gap year in India.
Olivia North, 21, suffered a subdural hematoma with intusion and a 3.6mm bleed on her brain after the crash in Goa on May 5. Her father Nic jumped on a plane and rushed to her hospital bed after being told the harrowing news – and worse was to come after he landed in the country.
MRI scans went on to reveal a significant injury to her left side temporal lobe, which stores memories and controls orientation and balance. His daughter has lost most of her long and short term memory, and is even unable to remember her beloved dog.
Although her condition is slowly improving, she faces a long wait before she can return to the UK. Journalist Nic will remain with her until she is able to go home and is raising funds to help with medical expenses and continued treatment of his daughter in south Asia.
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“State healthcare provision in India is at best scant, and as a result she was discharged from the intensive care unit where she was being treated just four days after arriving because of urgent pressure on beds, despite still having a serious bleed on her brain,” he said.
“She has been left unable to remember anything about her past life, let alone how to use a mobile phone. She currently has lost most of her long and short term memory. She cannot remember where she went to school or her dog, Raj, who died days before Xmas last year.
“Luckily I got there in time and was able to get her to somewhere relatively comfortable and seek private health care.
“She is now in the care of a brilliant neurosurgeon at Vision Hospital, Mapusa, but she cannot fly back to the UK until her injuries have improved as aeroplane cabin pressure poses a high risk to this kind of brain injury.
“So for now, we must wait until the doctors give her the all-clear to travel home. She is resting well and improving very slowly, but it will take time, up to a year, perhaps longer, for her memory to return to anything like it was.”
But the costs are growing and Nic has been forced to appeal for support after launching a GoFundMe page. With almost £4,000 already pledged, he fears it could cost around £12,000 and the family say the would welcome all donations during the traumatic time.
“She will need full-time care during the months ahead, which I will give her, as well as regular treatment at a brain injury unit back home,” Nic added on the page.
“As a consequence, I will potentially have to put my job on hold, or at least significantly reduce my hours, creating a large reduction in my income.
“I am therefore appealing for funds to help pay for my expenses so far, namely flights to India for myself and my youngest daughter, hotel accommodation for the three of us while Olivia convalesces, private medical bills, and funding to cover our return flights and income needs for the foreseeable future.”
To donate, visit the GoFundMe page here.
