A Campbell River family is asking the community for help with astronomical medical expenses being racked up by one of their members who was hit by a vehicle in Mexico last Saturday.
Ryan Hogue is in a Cancun, Mexico hospital awaiting surgery tonight to determine if he needs a double kidney transplant. In the accident he sustained eight broken ribs and damaged lungs, including one punctured lung and one swollen lung. He is also suffering kidney failure.
He was discovered laying in the middle of a road by some unknown passerby late Saturday night in Cancun. He had obviously been hit by a vehicle.
"And down there, if they hit somebody, they just take off," said his brother Shane Hogue.
Fortunately, an anonymous Mexican citizen felt compassionate enough to call an ambulance which took him to the hospital where Ryan clings to life.
He is unable to remember anything about the accident.
His mother and father Diane and Barry Scott have joined their son in Mexico as have other family members who have the same blood type. They have provided the necessary blood transfusions but the medical care is racking up staggering charges. Already costs in the area of $17,000 for the doctors' services have been racked up. To get Ryan back to Canada will cost $47,000 in cash, Shane said. That's after he's been stabilized enough to travel such a distance.
For now, the family is asking for help from the community with the expenses. It's unclear whether Ryan is eligible for Canadian health care. Communication with Canadian and Mexican embassies is proving problematic.
Ryan was living in Mexico and had applied for dual citizenship. He recently married in Mexico and his wife is at the hospital with the family.
Shane said it is a humbling experience to have to ask for help but this longtime Campbell River family are in need at this time. An account has been set up at RBC and if anyone is able to contribute you can call Shane at 1-778-773-5492 to arrange a donation to the account being provided by the bank with no charges. Alternatively, you can go on the Internet to gofundme.com (Medical Expenses for Ryan) and contribute that way.
Donations are already coming in but more is needed.
"We're certainly getting lots of support," Shane said. "I am overwhelmed with joy by the amount of love and support people are showing."