A WOMAN has been stuck with a $13,000 bill after suffering a medical emergency that saw her throwing up blood as she was on a cruise.
Khiali Baxter thought she was going to have a trip of a lifetime when she booked her Royal Caribbean cruise, until she fell ill on September 8.
Khiali Baxter said she was hit with $13,000 in medical bills after suffering a health emergency while on a cruise[/caption]
She said she was rushed from her Royal Caribbean ship to a hospital four hours away[/caption]
Baxter had internal bleeding, but had issues getting care[/caption]
She was just over two days into a trip from Galveston, Texas, outside Houston, to Mexico, with her boyfriend when she started to feel sick.
“I woke up, I started throwing up blood,” she told CBS affiliate KHOU.
“Unfortunately, I had passed out on the ground.”
They went to the onboard emergency room, and a doctor told Baxter that she had internal bleeding.
Medical officials then rushed her by land and drove her to a hospital four hours away.
In a video posted on GoFundMe, Baxter claimed they passed multiple care facilities on their way to the hospital.
Baxter remembers fading in and out of consciousness on the lengthy ride, and said she was “very cold and terrified.”
When she finally got to the hospital, the doctors called Baxter’s parents and told them they would need $2,500 to begin treatment.
They said they would “work as far as the $2,500 will take us,” which Baxter’s dad, Craig Baxter, said he’s never heard in his life.
A colonoscopy and an endoscopy were performed, but care providers were never able to find the source of the bleeding, the dad said.
They gave Baxter something to help stop the bleeding, but didn’t give her any blood, despite her hemoglobin levels being dangerously low, she claimed in the video.
After Baxter got home, she was slapped with a massive bill.
The itemized bill from the hospital totaled $9,970, and the on-board cruise medical facilities were $4,048.
Although the bills have been paid off, the family was left regretting that they didn’t get travel insurance.
Khiali Baxter’s GoFundMe
“Dear friends, family, and compassionate supporters,
“We are urgently asking for your help for Khiali Baxter—one of the youngest police officers in America—who is now facing a life-threatening medical emergency while on a cruise in the Caribbean.
“Khiali suddenly became violently ill, vomiting blood and losing consciousness. She is currently being treated in the ship’s medical center, where doctors have discovered an active internal gastrointestinal bleed and critically low hemoglobin levels. Her condition is serious and requires immediate intervention.
“Before Khiali can even leave the ship, she is facing a $4,000 onboard medical expenses for the emergency care she’s already received. Once the ship docks, she will be transported by EMS via ground ambulance for a four-hour journey to the nearest hospital equipped to treat her. This long and urgent transfer is necessary to stabilize her condition and begin lifesaving care.
“This crisis is compounded by the fact that Khiali does not have a passport and was not covered by travel insurance. That means all medical costs, emergency transport, and travel arrangements must be covered out-of-pocket by her family.
“Khiali is not only a courageous public servant—she’s a trailblazer. As one of the youngest officers in the country, she has dedicated herself to protecting and uplifting her community with integrity, compassion, and strength far beyond her years. Now, she needs our help.
“Your donation will go directly toward:
“$4,000 onboard medical expenses
“Ground EMS transportation to the hospital (4+ hours)
“Emergency medical treatment and blood transfusion
“Travel and lodging for family members assisting her
“Any additional medical, legal, or logistical costs related to her care abroad
“Please consider donating—and just as importantly, please share this message with your networks, your communities, and anyone who might be able to help. Every share expands our reach and brings us closer to getting Khiali the care she urgently needs.
“I will keep everyone updated as soon as she docks and begins her transfer to the hospital. Your support means everything right now.
“With gratitude and hope, Jennifer Brown #HelpKhialiHeal #SupportOurHeroes #EmergencyMedicalFund #ShareToSave”
“I can’t tell you how much I wish I would have had it,” she said in a video posted online.
“I am a law enforcement officer, and I’m a proud servant of my community.
“If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Royal Caribbean for comment.
Meanwhile, the world’s fourth-largest cruise ship was forced to go back to port after a fight erupted on board.
And a massive brawl was recorded on board a liner after passengers argued over chicken tenders.
