James Burke was due to return home from his holiday on November 19, but fell seriously ill before catching his flight.
James Burke
The family of a Limerick man who was diagnosed with severe dengue and sepsis after getting bitten by a mosquito in Thailand are raising money to fly him home so he can continue treatment in Ireland.
James Burke, from Effin, was due to return home from his holiday on November 19, but fell seriously ill before catching his flight.
He was admitted to an intensive care unit in a Thai hospital and had to be intubated after suffering respiratory failure. He was later diagnosed with dengue, a viral infection transmitted by infected mosquitos, and severe sepsis.
The young man, while no longer intubated, remains in a “critical condition” in ICU and continues to receive treatment for sepsis and other injuries, including a bleed to his brain.
According to his family, he also has some nerve damage to his shoulder and is currently immobile, requiring full nursing care.
They noted that James is receiving “excellent” care in Thailand, but costs are soaring at more than €2,700 a day in the ICU department.
His family has been covering his medical bills so far but are finding themselves at a loose end after learning that James will have to spend a “considerable” amount of time in hospital.
They have now set up a GoFundMe page to fly him home to Ireland to receive treatment here instead.
“We are fundraising to repatriate James home to Ireland to continue his medical here. The cost of repatriation is significant due to James’ poor health currently and the distance to get him home from Thailand,” organiser Margaret Creed wrote.
“We as a family want to bring home our brother James who is alone and helpless without any family or friends to comfort him. We would be forever grateful for any donation which will help get our brother James home.”
More than 170 people have donated to the fundraiser so far, raising €5,995 for James and his family.
To find out more information or make a donation, visit the ‘Please help our brother James Burke get home’ GoFundMe page.
