Steinbach family stuck with $100K medical bill after mother's stroke

A family from Steinbach is facing more than $100,000 in medical bills after a familyreunion turned into a crisisearlier this month.

Ashish Thakkar's parents travelled to Steinbach from India in August to witness the birth of their grandson. They arrived weeks before the birth.

While the family was preparing for the baby's arrival, ManjulaThakkar, Ashish Thakkar'smother, suffered a stroke. She was taken tohospital in Winnipeg on Oct. 1.

Her grandson was born the next day.

"Surgery was not possible due to the massive stroke, so doctors suggested she has to be under observation for a number of months while she recovers and then she will be able to go back to India," saidAshishThakkar.

ManjulaThakkar's condition was upgraded to stable on the day of her stroke, though she has remainedunresponsive in a hospital in Steinbach since then.

After a month in hospital, theThakkars'are now up againstmounting medical bills they say they can't afford to pay, asManjulaThakkar and her husband did not purchase travel insurance before leaving India. The Canadian government requires that long-term visitors to Canada have medical insurance, but people travelling on a visitor's visa do not have to provide proof of insurance.

Thakkar said the medical costs are making a bad situation worse.

"I just need the baby and my mom alive ... because she was with the hopes that she would see the grandson in her hands," saidAshishThakkar, adding he has had to take a leave from work because thedoctors say his mother could be in hospital for months.

$2.6K per day

At about $2,600 per day,AshishThakkar estimated the totalcost of his mother's medical bills will soon be hovering inthe $200,000 range.

"I don't have a big savings in my account and I have to take care of my family and day to day routine," said AshishThakkar. "Life, it becomes more challenging for me."

AshishThakkarsaid he and his family are grateful to the kind and hard-working hospital staff who continue to look after his mother, adding they've all learned a lot from the experience.

He has since purchased health insurance for his father while he remains in Manitoba.Thakkar said he hopes his story helps remindother international travellersplanning trips to Canada about the importance ofbuying insurance.

The Thakkarshave set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money to pay forManjulaThakkar's medical bills.As of Sunday night, thecampaign had raised about $4,000.

"Really thankful to them for understanding the situation," saidAshishThakkar. "It feels great that people are there to support.There is humanity living yet in the world, and I'm hoping the best comes out of it."