Emma Rice and her father, Grant, are finally both back in Ontario after the 69-year-old was put on a ventilator earlier this month — an experience that she describes as “pretty scary” for both of them. While Grant was on vacation in Costa Rica, he started to develop numbness in his tongue, which quickly spread throughout his face, leading to difficulty swallowing and eventually compromising his ability to breathe effectively. Emma flew out to Costa Rica on April 9th after learning her father was ill. Following her arrival, Grant was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare but serious autoimmune disorder that causes nerve paralysis. Grant spent the next few weeks in a San Jose hospital room before he was stable enough to return to Ontario on a medical evacuation flight. Insurance or a flight weren’t the issue, but finding an available hospital bed in Ontario was. Fortunately, following the news of Grant’s situation, multiple hospitals extended offers for assistance. Meanwhile, Emma said her father’s insurance company contacted her regarding an available bed in Ottawa. Shortly thereafter, a medical evacuation flight was on its way. Her father is now recovering at Ottawa Civic Hospital, facing a long road to recovery ahead. However, having him back home is all that matters. Unfortunately, Grant’s case isn’t unique in Canada — Canadians travelling can face stressful, lengthy waits to access hospitals back home. As a reminder, it is always important to remember to get sufficient travel insurance. Travel insurance is essential as it covers medical expenses that are not covered by government health insurance plans. Travelers should always consider getting adequate travel insurance to protect themselves against unexpected medical emergencies.
Ontario Man Returns Home After Stranding in Costa Rica Due to Hospital Bed Shortage
