Family Faces Crisis as Gran’s Holiday Turns into Medical Emergency

A holiday in Turkey has turned into a nightmare for a family from Formby as Gill Taylor-Scarth, 56, was informed that she requires life-saving surgery, with severe risks of paralysis. Gill, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumor just months after the death of her husband, Kevin Taylor, faced a devastating turn of events following a family trip to Hisaronu.

The family had planned the holiday for August as a means of finding joy during a challenging time. Kevin, who passed away in December 2022, had organized the trip for his loved ones to enjoy. Shortly after his passing, Gill began experiencing health issues, leading to a diagnosis of a large brain tumor after she reported hearing loss in January 2023. Despite her condition, Gill’s doctors cleared her to travel, and she embarked on the family holiday in June with her children and grandchildren.

Gill’s daughter, Sophie Taylor, indicated that her mother appeared to be in good health during the initial days of the trip. “She was absolutely fine when we went away in June,” Sophie said. However, upon returning home, Gill experienced a significant health decline, necessitating treatment at Southport Hospital for her swelling tumor before the family holiday commenced on August 15, 2023.

Despite Gill’s determination to honor her husband’s legacy by going on the trip, her condition worsened while in Turkey. After several days of feeling unwell, including off-balance episodes and severe headaches, Gill was unable to keep food down on August 23. Concerned for her health, Sophie and her family sought medical attention.

Gill was initially taken to a private clinic and subsequently transferred to a public hospital in Antalya, three hours away. Due to hospital restrictions, only one family member was permitted to accompany her, leaving her 17-year-old sister, Rosie Taylor, to navigate the situation alone. “The hospital in Turkey is telling us they need to operate, but nobody speaks English,” Sophie explained.

Medical staff have informed the family that Gill’s surgery carries a high risk, with a slim chance of survival and the possibility of complete paralysis due to the tumor’s location pressing against her brain stem. “We just want to get her home,” Sophie said, expressing her fear of losing her mother in a foreign country.

To expedite Gill’s return to the UK for treatment at The Walton Centre in Liverpool, Sophie is seeking funds for a medical evacuation flight, which could cost approximately £50,000. In response, she has launched a GoFundMe page to raise the necessary funds for the Medevac flight, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Sophie hopes that with financial assistance, they can secure a safe passage for Gill back to the UK, where she can receive the medical care she urgently needs. “The best outcome for my mum would be to get her home and treated by the doctors who know her condition,” she added. As the family navigates this critical time, they are relying on the support of their community to bring Gill back to safety.