Emma Rice’s father, Grant, faced a medical emergency while on vacation in Costa Rica. Due to a shortage of available hospital beds in Ontario, he was stranded and required a medical evacuation flight. After several weeks in a Costa Rican hospital, Grant was stable enough to return to Canada. However, finding an available hospital bed in Ontario remained a challenge. Fortunately, multiple hospitals extended offers of assistance, and Grant was able to receive treatment at Ottawa Civic Hospital. The incident highlights the importance of travel insurance, 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.