The focus was on bringing a LaGrange grandmother back to the U.S. promptly so that doctors could make every effort to save her life.
Channel 2’s Courtney Francisco visited LaGrange on Thursday and spoke with Loretta Cox and her husband. Loretta and her husband embarked on a cruise ship in Florida on Sunday after leaving LaGrange on Saturday. Loretta, a mother of six and grandmother of nine, decided to take a break and enjoy a cruise to the Bahamas.
By Tuesday, fluid had filled her lungs, causing severe illness. As a result, she required placement on a ventilator and became stranded in the Dominican Republic for medical treatment.
After Francisco’s story was broadcasted on Channel 2 Action News at 6 p.m., the family managed to raise $18,000 and arrange for Cox to be transported on a medical flight.
She is scheduled to arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida early Friday morning.
Cox is currently in a coma and is being supported by a ventilator.
Due to the patient being on a ventilator, the flight had to lower its altitude in order to prevent any pressure-related complications.
According to her family, they spent almost $28,000 to have her transported by ambulance to the hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
According to her family, Cox cannot receive treatment at that hospital as they don’t accept her insurance. As a result, staying there would cost $4,000 per day.
According to doctors in the Dominican Republic, they informed Cox that her condition could be stabilized, but emphasized the necessity of arranging a specialized medical flight back to the United States for further treatment.
