The mother of a toddler who passed out four times in the US has incurred more than £10,000 of medical bills there.
Cindi Nicolson rushed her three-year-old daughter Aaliyah to hospital when she took ill on a trip to New York State.
After training in Scots law for five years Cindi, who lives in Errol, was taking the US bar exam with the hope of creating a new life in the States with her fiance Stefanie, when Aaliyah took ill.
“The hospital in New York said they thought it was exhaustion in the end after a series of tests,” Cindi said.
“But they said to get her checked over at home, which we did, and are waiting on her results from her blood tests from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh last week.”
Aaliyah had to be kept in hospital in Albany for more than 24 hours and have a series of tests before she was allowed to fly home. The total bill came to $16,000.
Cindi, who is very involved in the Dundee music scene, has thanked those who threw a fundraising gig to help her pay the bill. Music for Medicine took place at Buskers and was organised Bob Boyd, Alan MacWilliam, Paul McGowan, Dougie McGregor and Brian Howman.
The acts taking part were Sons of Nicol, Billy Mitchell, Kenny Martin, Recycled Teens, Mama’s Baby, 6th Street Tour Band, Graham Brown Band, the Howling Wolves and Bravado.
Cindi said: “Thank you to everyone who donated, including Bob Boyd, Steve Aitken, Gavin Swadel, Dougie McGregor, Mike Cormie, Dougie Black, Karen Brownlee, Margaret Davidson, Ryan Galloway, Eileen Hood, TC, Vicki Low, Grant McKenzie, Maggie Smith and Brian Howman.
“They were amazing people. They raised about £1,000 and are still auctioning things.”
A further £700 has been raised via a fundraising page set up by Cindi’s sister Angie Partridge and her niece Melanie Relffe-Arnold while Aaliyah was still undergoing treatment in the US.
Angie has written on the page: “Unfortunately Cindi did not take out medical insurance and is currently worried sick about her daughter.
“It’s easy to say she should have taken out insurance but she didn’t as she has so little money at the moment and is now down to her last £10.
“It could happen to any of us and we would want our child/grandchild/niece to have care.”
The fundraising page can be found at www.gofundme.com/5w8gcn5z4.