An American woman from Virginia found herself stranded in an Indonesian hospital after sustaining fractures to her hip and elbow during a fall on a cruise ship. Denise Hammond, 64, was initially treated onboard the Carnival Cruise ship Luminosa but was later determined to require surgical intervention beyond the ship’s capacity. She was then transferred to Siloam Hospital in Manado, where it became apparent that the hospital was ill-equipped to provide the necessary care.
Hammond’s daughter, Rachel Matthews, expressed her family’s disappointment at the abrupt end to her mother’s month-long cruise, which was supposed to include stops in Asia and the Pacific before reaching Australia. The family never anticipated the challenges they would face in obtaining medical care for Hammond’s injuries.
Although Hammond was given a solo “VIP room” at the hospital, Matthews described the conditions as atrocious, falling short of expectations for a hospital room in America or other parts of the world. The hospital lacked the necessary equipment to treat her fractured bones, and the medical staff attempted to make her walk on her injured leg. Concerned for her mother’s well-being, Matthews feared that Hammond might die in the hospital due to the lack of proper care.
Efforts to secure a medical evacuation were met with dead ends, prompting the family to seek assistance from the U.S. embassy. Eventually, they were connected with transport companies to arrange for Hammond’s transfer to the nearest hospital capable of treating her, which happened to be nearly 4,000 miles away in Bangkok, Thailand. The exorbitant costs associated with the evacuation posed further challenges for the family.
Hammond’s insurance company initially provided little support, leaving the family in a desperate situation. However, after media coverage of the incident gained traction, the insurance company began assisting with transportation costs. Nevertheless, the family anticipates that Hammond’s medical expenses will surpass her insurance coverage, and they will also have to bear additional costs associated with being stranded in a foreign country.
Finally, on Friday, Hammond arrived at a Bangkok hospital equipped to provide the necessary treatment. However, the long delay in medical treatment has put her body under significant stress and potentially caused additional damage. The family hopes that further evaluations will reveal minimal long-term effects.
Carnival Cruise, the company responsible for the ship on which Hammond sustained her injuries, has been in regular contact with her and her family. They expressed their pleasure at her nearing return trip home. However, Hammond’s future travel plans remain uncertain, as the ordeal has understandably shaken her confidence.
The story of Denise Hammond serves as a reminder of the challenges that can arise when medical emergencies occur in foreign countries, highlighting the importance of travel insurance and access to proper medical facilities.
