Khiali Baxter and her boyfriend had the time of their lives as they boarded their first-ever Royal Caribbean Cruise. But soon, the dream turned to a nightmare as Baxter got very sick, vomiting blood, two days into the cruise. The healthcare bill in Mexico grew into thousands of dollars. All because of one mistake made before departure.
Khiali Baxter and her boyfriend had spent two days on board the Caribbean Cruise, taking them from Galveston to Mexico. However, the journey turned into a nightmare as Khiali suffered a medical emergency, which left her floating in and out of consciousness.
“So, I woke up. I started throwing up blood, unfortunately, and I had passed out on the ground,” Khiali Baxter said in an interview with KHOU . “I could feel myself kind of going in and out of consciousness. I was very cold and terrified.”
Baxter was taken to the ship’s medical emergency room before reaching port, being transported by ambulance to a hospital, a journey which took four hours.
“Sometimes the trip of a lifetime can become the situation of a lifetime,” said Khiali’s father, Craig Baxter.
Khiali’s family members were contacted when she arrived at the hospital. But sadly, things were complicated. The staff requested payment before they would begin treating her. Her father recalled staff saying, “We’ll work as far as the $2,500 will take us.”
“I’ve never heard this in my life,” he said.
Khiali Baxter shocked by $13,000 medical bill after emergency on cruise
Khiali’s parents received the horrific news and immediately acted. They arranged emergency passports and traveled to Mexico to help their daughter and her boyfriend.
Doctors performed endoscopy and colonoscopy on Baxter, but the family said they couldn’t figure out why Khiali Baxter started bleeding internally. Eventually, she was released. According to the Daily Mail, she was medically evacuated with the assistance of Assist America.
In total, the medical bill reached over $13.000. Additionally, they had to cover travel, lodging, and ongoing medical expenses.
While Khiali Baxter’s story ended happily, she now wants to warn others from making the same brutal mistake she did. The woman didn’t have travel insurance.
“It was a very, very scary experience, and my main thing that I do want to say is that I really wish I would’ve gotten travel insurance,” Khiali Baxter said.
Urges people to get travel insurance
Her father added, “It was an eye-opening experience that I hope prepares other young people.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover the medical expenses for the Baxters. As of September 24, they have received almost $ 14,000.
“We’re asking for your help to ease the financial burden on this loving family as they focus on Khiali’s recovery. Every donation, share, and kind word makes a difference,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Thank you for standing with the Baxters during this incredibly difficult time. — Team Khiali”
We wish Khiali Baxter a quick recovery. Please share this article on Facebook to remind friends and family to always get travel insurance; it could save your life.
