Mum's 'nightmare' in Turkey after sons fall seriously ill on holiday

A mother from North Lanarkshire has said she is living a “nightmare” after her two young sons fell seriously ill while on a family holiday in Turkey.

Abby Oakes, from Airdrie, said her son, Theo, was rushed to hospital shortly after their arrival in Antalya last Tuesday with bronchitis and croup.

The six-year-old, who has asthma, faced additional complications and is receiving IV antibiotics, fluids, antihistamines, oxygen, steroids, and nebulisers, she said.

Abby Oakes said her sons, Blake and Theo, fell ill shortly after their arrival in Antalya last Tuesday. Abby Oakes/Gofundme

Shortly after, her other son, Blake, also became seriously ill with croup and had high infection markers.

The one-year-old has since been declared unfit to fly while the family was due to return home.

Abby, who has had to pay £1,000 upfront before insurance would cover the treatment for both children, is now fundraising to cover the cost of keeping Theo in Turkey to complete his treatment, and to allow her parents to stay and help care for the children.

One-year-old Blake has been declared unfit to fly. Supplied

The 25-year-old, who has been diagnosed with anxiety and panic attacks, said facing the prospect of being separated from her sons is a “nightmare”.

“Watching your child unwell in a foreign country with language barriers… the stress and worry is beyond belief”, she said.

“I really do not want to be left in a foreign country alone scared and worried for my son and then be separated from my other son.”

Theo was rushed to hospital shortly after his arrival in Antayla. Supplied

Her insurance will only allow one adult to stay with Blake, meaning she could be forced to leave Theo behind despite him still requiring oxygen, steroids, and nebulisers.

“Theo is responding quicker to treatment than Blake, but there is a higher chance of Theo being fit to fly tomorrow.

“I cannot cope with being separated from my other son while he is still unwell.

“Blake has pulled out his IV four times. It’s extremely difficult to keep the nebuliser on him with him being so young and confused, so all the help and support is absolutely necessary.

“I really did not want to have to do this but I have had no choice.

“I am running low on funds as it is from keeping us all here in the hospital, paying for taxis and buying essentials to stay at the hospital, and now have to stay past my flight home date with little to no funds and extreme stress and worry.”