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Mum of baby who fell ill in Mexico welcomes support

Ryan Dobney & Jenny Coleman
BBC News, Liverpool
Family handout A baby girl, with blue eyes, is photographed while on an aeroplane. She is wearing headphones and is looking directly into the camera.Family handout
Sienna-Rose fell ill last week while on holiday in Cancun, Mexico

The mother of a 19-month-old girl who suffered a brain haemorrhage while on holiday in Mexico has said her family have "been to hell and back".

Sienna-Rose, from Liverpool, collapsed in Cancun last week and underwent life-saving surgery.

Her family were told it would cost more than £100,000 to fly Sienna-Rose back to the UK because an aeroplane with specialist medical equipment would be needed.

After more than £145,000 was raised in an online appeal, Natasha said the family would "forever be in debt to everyone that has helped get our baby home".

Family handout Sienna-Rose, who is 19 months old, is photographed lying in a hospital bed with a plastic mask covering her nose and mouth. There are bandages on the head of the little girl, who has dark brown, curly hair.Family handout
Sienna-Rose had an emergency operation to remove fluid from her brain

"We just want to express how happy we are with the love and support we have received from not just Liverpool but around the country," said Natasha, 31.

Sienna-Rose had been playing in the family's hotel apartment with her two older brothers when she fell ill.

"It all happened really quickly," said Natasha.

"She was having a seizure. She wasn't crying. She was purple, she was stiff, she was unable to move."

Family handout Sienna-Rose, in a hospital bed, surrounded by medical staff.Family handout
A fundraiser has generated the money needed to fly Sienna-Rose back to the UK

The hotel's doctor told the family to go to hospital.

The family said Sienna-Rose only received all of the treatment she needed after they had gone to four hospitals.

"The first wanted £4,000 up front which we didn't have," Natasha said.

The family said they then travelled to another hospital so that Sienna-Rose could have a CT scan.

At a third hospital, a paediatric doctor said the little girl had suffered a brain haemorrhage.

Family handout Natasha has long blonde hair and is wearing blue lycra leggings, a blue top and a beige lycra jacket. She is holding Sienna-Ro,se who is smiling at the camera and wearing a green tweed outfit.Family handout
Natasha said she just wanted to get home with her baby

The family said they were eventually told Sienna-Rose needed emergency surgery to remove fluid from her brain.

"It was horrendous," Natasha said.

"I broke down and cried to my mum on the phone.

"The British Consulate came to us and said 'Sorry, but there's nothing we can do'.

"To be this far away from home and not have any source of support - you do feel let down.

"I've never felt so isolated."

Family handout Liam is wearing a beige t-shirt and beige shorts and Natasha is wearing a light blue dress. They are standing in front of palm trees at night time.Family handout
Sienna-Rose's parents Natasha and Liam thanked everyone who had donated

Natasha said the family had been quoted more than £100,000 to cover the costs of bringing Sienna-Rose home.

She said they had been told their travel insurance was invalid.

Natasha said the fundraising appeal to help her family, who will return home on Saturday, had been "surreal".

Thanking everyone who had contributed, she said: "Without them we wouldn't have been able to sort this air ambulance home.

"We could not have done this without all her guardian angels and again we cannot thank people enough from the bottom of our hearts."

Lia's Wings charity confirmed it was supporting the family "to ensure a seamless reintegration into NHS care upon her return".

The Foreign Office confirmed it was supporting the family of a British national in hospital in Mexico.

It said it was in touch with local authorities.

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