U.S. national dies during church mission in Kenya
A U.S. national (woman) who fell critically ill during a church mission trip to Kenya has died, leaving her family racing to raise funds
A U.S. national (woman) who fell critically ill during a church mission trip to Kenya has died, leaving her family racing to raise funds to settle an outstanding hospital bill and bring her body home.
Ayla Garcia, of Richmond, Virginia, travelled to Kenya on June 30 with her church and family to support an orphanage.
According to reporting by WWBT, while in Kenya, Garcia contracted a salmonella infection and was admitted to a hospital in Nairobi after her condition worsened.
Her family said Garcia, a mother of four, had been living with sickle cell disease, making her particularly vulnerable to severe complications from the infection.
In a GoFundMe appeal launched after her hospitalisation, the family said the infection spread to her kidneys, liver and bloodstream, triggering multiple organ complications.
The fundraiser said Garcia underwent at least four blood transfusions, was placed on dialysis and later developed jaundice as doctors fought to stabilise her condition.
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She remained hospitalised for nearly two weeks before succumbing to the illness, according to a statement shared by her family.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share our beloved daughter, sister, mother, aunt, cousin, niece and friend, Ayla, has passed. Her fight against sickle cell was hard-fought,” the family said.
Following her death, the family said the fundraiser would now be used to clear her outstanding medical bills and cover the cost of repatriating her body to the United States.
“The hospital requires full payment for medical services rendered for her body to be released to come home,” the family said.
“Our goal remains to bring her home where we can properly lay her to rest,” the statement added.
As of Friday, the fundraiser had set a target of $28,000 (about Ksh3.6 million) to help cover the medical expenses and the cost of returning Garcia’s body to the United States.
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