A family has been plunged into crisis after Stephanie Williams, a 42-year-old mother from Bishopston, Swansea, collapsed while on holiday in Alicante and required emergency brain surgery.
The incident occurred just hours before she was scheduled to fly home to Wales. Stephanie remains in critical condition in a Spanish hospital nearly a week after her collapse, with her family by her side.
The ordeal began on a Saturday when Stephanie, along with her four children and partner, were preparing to leave their Costa Blanca holiday in Alicante. Around 1 am, Stephanie suddenly fell ill in her hotel room and suffered a seizure.
Her daughter Aimee immediately contacted relatives back home to arrange a £3,000 transfer so her mother could receive treatment at a nearby Spanish hospital.
Aimee shared with WalesOnline, “While she is being supported in Alicante by my dad, uncles, and her partner, I just want to try and do something to help support my family while I’m back in Wales.
My mum is only 42, and my siblings and I need her to wake up and fight to get better so she can come home to us. My mum is the most selfless person in the whole world and has always put others before herself, and now I’m asking for help for her when she needs it the most.”
Stephanie, who has dedicated her career to caring for others as a nurse, midwife, and bereavement midwife, is now in need of support herself. Despite travel insurance eventually covering Stephanie’s medical costs, her family had to initially shoulder thousands of pounds for her tests and urgent brain surgery on June 10.
Stephanie’s father and brothers joined her partner in keeping a bedside vigil in Alicante. Although the operation was successful, Stephanie remains in a very critical condition in intensive care, and her prognosis is still uncertain.
The financial strain of having her loved ones near continues to mount daily. The situation is further compounded by the recent loss of Stephanie’s mother, adding to the already significant emotional burden.
In response to this crisis, Aimee and her aunt, Jade Wright, hastily set up a GoFundMe page to help ease some of the financial burdens during this difficult time. The page has seen an overwhelming response, raising over £15,000 in donations since its creation just a few days ago.
Thousands of pounds were raised within hours of setting up the page, quickly meeting the initial and then a second fundraising target. Overcome with gratitude for the outpouring of support, Aimee expressed, “We honestly can’t believe the generosity and support my mum has received.
We as a family would like to say a huge thank you for the continued support – I can’t believe we have hit our second target of £15,000.”
However, Aimee pointed out that despite the substantial amount raised, her mother is self-employed and therefore has no income while she is in intensive care. The road to recovery is expected to be long, and the family wants to ensure that a family member can be with Stephanie in Alicante at all times so she isn’t alone.
To help alleviate some of the financial pressure, they have decided to increase the fundraising target to £20,000 and are urging people to continue sharing the campaign. Aimee added, “If there is any money from the donations left over once mum is home and better, this will be donated to an aneurysm charity.”
The community’s response has been both swift and generous, with donations flooding in to support Stephanie and her family during this challenging time. The campaign has not only provided much-needed financial assistance but has also been a source of emotional support for the family, showing them that they are not alone in their struggle.
The overwhelming generosity has given the family hope and a sense of solidarity as they navigate this difficult period, awaiting Stephanie’s recovery.