Family Faces Crisis as Gran’s Holiday Turns into Medical Emergency

A family holiday in Turkey has turned into a distressing medical emergency for Gill Taylor-Scarth, a 56-year-old grandmother battling a brain tumour. While on vacation in Hisaronu, she received the alarming news that she requires life-saving surgery, which carries the risk of total paralysis. The situation has left her family scrambling to secure her safe return to the UK for treatment.

The trip was originally planned by Gill’s late husband, Kevin Taylor, who passed away in December 2022. The holiday, intended as a source of joy for the family, became a stark reminder of their recent loss. Gill’s health took a turn after she was diagnosed with a large brain tumour in January 2023, following a sudden loss of hearing.

Despite her condition, Gill was determined to proceed with the family trip, which took place in June after receiving medical clearance to fly. Her daughter, Sophie Taylor, noted that Gill appeared to be in good spirits at the start of their holiday. “She was absolutely fine when we went away in June,” Sophie said.

Tragically, upon returning to the UK, Gill experienced a severe decline in her health due to the swelling of the tumour. After being treated with steroids, she received clearance for another flight and embarked on the family holiday on August 15, 2023. Gill even purchased travel insurance for £700 to ensure her coverage during the trip, with plans for surgery at The Walton Centre in Liverpool upon her return.

However, her condition worsened shortly into the trip. On August 23, Gill became seriously ill, unable to keep food down. The family initially sought to book a flight home, but after consulting with local doctors, they opted to take her to a hospital instead. She was first admitted to a private clinic before being transferred to a public hospital in Antalya, which is located three hours away.

The situation has been stressful for her family, especially for her youngest sister, Rosie, aged 17, who has been managing the hospital visits alone due to hospital regulations limiting visitors. Sophie expressed her concern: “We’ve been told there is only a slight chance she will survive the surgery if they do it, and the best outcome is that she will be completely paralysed because of where the tumour is.”

The family is now focused on bringing Gill back to the UK for surgery at The Walton Centre, which has been treating her condition. To facilitate this, they are seeking a Medevac flight—an air ambulance service designed for rapid medical transportation. Unfortunately, the cost of such a flight is estimated at around £50,000, prompting Sophie to launch a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the urgent transfer.

“We just want to get her home. I don’t want her to die here [in Turkey],” Sophie added, underscoring the emotional turmoil the family is experiencing. The hope is to gather sufficient funds quickly to ensure Gill receives the specialized care she desperately needs back in Liverpool.

Support for the family can be directed through the GoFundMe page established to help cover the costs of the medical evacuation.