Donors pay sick mum’s medevac bill
Anonymous benefactors have paid the bill of about $170,000 so Hamilton woman Abby Hartley can be flown back to New Zealand from Bali, where she is in a coma.
National Party leader Simon Bridges said the New Zealanders who paid the invoice for the medical evacuation had approached him in the middle of last week, wanting to help.
He contacted Hartley’s husband, Richard, and, during several conversations, was able to facilitate the payment.
‘‘It’s a big thing they’ve done,’’ Bridges said. ‘‘What this does, it gives the confidence money isn’t going to be the limiting factor in Abby and Richard Hartley getting back.’’
Hartley’s family has also raised $237,602 through a Givealittle page. Bridges said any of that money left over would be used to reimburse those people who paid for the medical evacuation.
There was some uncertainty around Givealittle donations, and it took time to collect, Bridges said. Hartley would also be facing significant medical bills.
He wasn’t sure when the mother-of-two would return to New Zealand. ‘‘There are medical issues about when safely and optimally Abby can go. I don’t know if that’s going to be sometime this week, or a bit longer.’’
The Hartleys arrived in Bali on August 1 for a ‘‘second honeymoon’’ but, within hours, Abby Hartley was rushed to hospital in severe pain. She was found to have a twisted bowel.
Emergency surgery had led to complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, kidney failure and severe infections.
Her Givealittle page said hospital bills in Bali were expected to be about $100,000.
In an update yesterday, daughter Sophie Hartley said she felt some people were having a field day at the news her mother’s medical evacuation had been paid for.
‘‘This post is for all the generous people that have donated to our Givealittle page and followed our story, as I feel you have the right to know that your donations have gone towards what we promised they would – medical bills and medevac,’’ she said.
‘‘All you negative Nancys out there, feel free to have a read and put your minds at ease also.’’
The ‘‘generous person’’ who paid the bill would be paid back once the family had the funds from a re-mortgage, and the money from the Givealittle page was released.
Insurance cover had been declined as her mother’s condition was deemed pre-existing.