ICU nurse Sierra Fairhurst returns to Massachusetts after a horrific moped crash in Krabi left her with severe facial injuries and a long recovery ahead, highlighting the importance of medical coverage services for foreign tourists in Thailand.
A young ICU nurse from Salem, Massachusetts, came to Thailand on holiday in early March and enjoyed an action-packed holiday until a motorbike accident on a road trip that she still cannot recall. Nonetheless, she awoke to find herself severely injured with a broken eye socket, nose, and significant disfigurement to her face. 24-year-old Sierra Fairhurst was lucky. She was quickly joined by her mother and brother, while her friends rallied around her. Despite numerous obstacles, she managed to make it to Bangkok for critical treatment before arriving back in the United States on March 27th. Sierra’s road to full recovery is still a long one, but she has the medical support she needs. However, her story highlights the importance of medical insurance coverage for visiting foreign tourists to Thailand.
An American ICU nurse arrived home to the United States last Thursday after weeks of surgery and stays in multiple Thai hospitals. 24-year-old Sierra Fairhurst is an ICU nurse at Salem Hospital on the North Shore in Massachusetts. Previously, she had come to Thailand with friends for the holiday of a lifetime. Indeed, all was going particularly well.
The young woman, a graduate of Salem State University, had seen elephants, gone ziplining, and taken tours in southern Thailand’s idyllic resorts on the Andaman Coast.
Sierra Fairhurst’s moped crash left her with serious injuries, including broken bones and facial trauma
However, the young woman made a mistake when she hired a moped to tour the local scenery by herself. Certainly, she cannot remember what happened to her.
Indeed, all she can recall is a sudden rising along the road. The next time she woke up in a small hospital in Krabi with severe injuries.
“We were on the road and then we weren’t,” she said. “My eye socket is broken, I almost lost my eye, my cheekbones and nose were broken, so that’s all metal now.” According to GoFundMe, Sierra Fairhurst suffered horrific facial injuries, a brain bleed, and multiple broken bones.
After the crash, she was taken to a shabby hospital on Thailand’s west coast. Afterwards, her devastated mother and brother travelled across the globe to be by her side.
“There are pigeons walking around our room,” her mother, Zoey Rose, told friends stateside in an update back then. “Physically, you can see that her nose is over to the side. Physically, she doesn’t have any teeth. Her chin was kind of removed, but it’s now back on, and her eyelid was gone. But that’s now on.”
In the chaos of the accident, Sierra’s passport and identity documents were lost, and she was unable to transfer to a more advanced hospital in Bangkok for facial surgery.
Sierra’s family faced emotional turmoil as they fought and won to get her medical treatment in Bangkok
“In the confusion of the accident and her friends packing luggage to transfer with her to the next hospital, all of Sierra’s identification is missing,” Rose said. “She has no ID, social security card, or passport. It is imperative that once she is stable, she gets to come home to Boston and receive the best care and recover at home with her family.”
Later, with the help of the U.S. Embassy, a new passport was provided, and Sierra was transported to a facility in Bangkok, where she underwent multiple surgeries. Finally, she arrived back at home on March 27th.
Immediately after landing at Boston Logan International Airport, Sierra went to the hospital and was cleared from inpatient treatment.
She has visited the wound clinic and oral maxillofacial surgeon and has appointments scheduled with her primary care provider, neurologist, ocular plastic surgeon, orthopaedic surgeon, and cosmetic dentist.
Her mother expects that her daughter will take time to heal. At the same time, Sierra herself expects this. “I talk with a lisp now, and people often ask me to repeat myself a few times,” explains Ms. Fairhurst.
Sierra’s journey to recovery continues, with ongoing appointments and emotional support from her family
“I would definitely like to heal quickly and be able to get back to work, see my coworkers and my friends and take care of my patients. But I know I need to be able to pour from a full cup, and if my cup isn’t full, I can’t help anybody else.”
Zoey Rose is relieved to have her daughter back home and is ready to support her through the long road to recovery.
Twist of fate saw a young Australian die on Ko Samui last Thursday as his fast motorbike lost control
Deadly danger of motorbikes in Thailand, 2 dead in 1 day while an Australian’s dreams are smashed.
Donate to Sierra’s recuperation at home
“I know she’s very self-conscious in regard to the scarring on her face and missing teeth. But she still came out of this alive, and her brain is healing and doing well. And she’s still beautiful,” said Rose.
The story is just another example of how quickly a dream can turn into a nightmare in Thailand.
Meanwhile, it is another reminder to young visitors to Thailand to be wary about motorbikes. In addition, do not visit the kingdom without adequate insurance coverage.
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Further reading:
Deadly danger of motorbikes in Thailand, 2 dead in 1 day while an Australian’s dreams are smashed
Canadian the latest foreigner killed in a motorbike accident in Thailand early on Friday in Pattaya
Harrowing scene as Canadian cries for his dead wife at early morning accident in Kanchanaburi
Confusing traffic lights and reckless driving may have caused death of French tourist in Ayutthaya
Tragic death of a beauty queen and two others in a road accident near Khon Kaen University is a loss
