Marino's Medical Fund
Donation protected
On December 23-30th my family and I boarded the Norwegian Escape. On the last day of the trip, my dad and I had gone snorkeling on The Norwegian Cruise Lines Island, Great Stirrup Cay where little did we know was going to turn into a nightmare.
After getting out of the water, I decided to go lay down in the sun for a little bit, until I heard a few teenagers walking by. One had said: "I can't believe I laughed at that man drowning" as the rest of them laughed.
After hearing what that teenager had said, I got up to look for my dad just to make sure he was ok. As I was walking by the rocks (where the lifeguard was located), I heard a lady calling my name. I turned around and saw her running towards me with my dads snorkels in her hands. I automatically thought of the worst. She had reassured me that he was okay but I needed to go to medical as soon as possible because my dad had drowned and was not breathing.
When arriving to medical, I saw my dad hooked up to many different types of machines. I had went to hold his hand, when the doctor told me he was in critical condition therefore I was not able to touch him for his own safety. During this time, my mom was no where to be found, therefore I was alone. I ran back to the entrance/security of the island, crying and asking for the man to call the ship in order to locate my mom.
I had waited about 10 minutes until I gave up and ran back to find her on my own. I had told multiple Norwegian employees that my dad was in medical and I needed help finding my mom, although no one seemed to care. Eventually a man who worked on the island was concerned for me and took me on the ATV to find her. She was no where to be found.
Eventually I ran back to the medical where my dad was being transported back to the Medical Centre on the Cruise ship. When arriving there they had told my dad he had to sign a bunch of papers in order to be helped. He obviously was in need of immediate treatment therefore he had signed. Hours later my dad was discharged from the cruise hospital with a outstanding bill fee of $5,189.55.
I had asked my dad how it all happened, he told me that he remembers waving at the lifeguard, who ignored him, then screaming for the lifeguard, who ignored him again. He was screaming for his life and everyone thought it was a joke.
My dad told me he knew this was it and no one would save him. He was 20 feet deep and 200 feet out in the water, when two kids had found him and tried bringing him back.
Two men had brought him out of the water when they called for medical. No lifeguard had helped him through it all. Isn't that their job? There was no type of sympathy for my dad shown by any crew member. Through it all, no crew member had came to the stateroom or even called to see how he was doing. Absolutely nothing was done for him through it all even considering this all happened on THEIR island under their "lifeguards" supervision.
When I had spoke to guest services, she had absolutely no sympathy towards my dad. When I asked to speak to a manager she had told me he was not available. When I came back in the morning, she had told me he was still unavailable. All they had to say was that my dad owed his full medical bill fee, and we were not allowed off the ship until it was paid. My parents do not own credit cards therefore we were not prepaired to pay that type of money. The cruise line did not offer to pay a single dime, or give my dad any type of sympathy in any way.
My dad is the strongest man I know, and will fight through any sort of pain. Seeing him not being able to walk on his own and being so weak was the absolute worst feeling I have ever felt. I have never seen him the way he was, therefore I knew he was not ok.
The full funds will be going towards my dads medical fee. The doctors on the cruise did not closely look to see whether he had any damage to his lungs or other damage that was done to his body. All they cared about was the money. My dad had told me that prior to me arriving to the medical, he remembers them forcing him to sign papers in such critical condition with no explanation to what he was signing. He was in critical conditions and needed the assistance as soon as possible, therefore he signed it. These doctors definitely took advantage of him due to his state.
Please do not feel forced to donate any money, I would love for people to help raise awareness on how the Norwegian Escape completely AVOIDED my dads incident. Next time you are considering booking with Nowegian Cruise Lines, please remember this story!
I can't thank you all enough.
-Venezia Hebecker
After getting out of the water, I decided to go lay down in the sun for a little bit, until I heard a few teenagers walking by. One had said: "I can't believe I laughed at that man drowning" as the rest of them laughed.
After hearing what that teenager had said, I got up to look for my dad just to make sure he was ok. As I was walking by the rocks (where the lifeguard was located), I heard a lady calling my name. I turned around and saw her running towards me with my dads snorkels in her hands. I automatically thought of the worst. She had reassured me that he was okay but I needed to go to medical as soon as possible because my dad had drowned and was not breathing.
When arriving to medical, I saw my dad hooked up to many different types of machines. I had went to hold his hand, when the doctor told me he was in critical condition therefore I was not able to touch him for his own safety. During this time, my mom was no where to be found, therefore I was alone. I ran back to the entrance/security of the island, crying and asking for the man to call the ship in order to locate my mom.
I had waited about 10 minutes until I gave up and ran back to find her on my own. I had told multiple Norwegian employees that my dad was in medical and I needed help finding my mom, although no one seemed to care. Eventually a man who worked on the island was concerned for me and took me on the ATV to find her. She was no where to be found.
Eventually I ran back to the medical where my dad was being transported back to the Medical Centre on the Cruise ship. When arriving there they had told my dad he had to sign a bunch of papers in order to be helped. He obviously was in need of immediate treatment therefore he had signed. Hours later my dad was discharged from the cruise hospital with a outstanding bill fee of $5,189.55.
I had asked my dad how it all happened, he told me that he remembers waving at the lifeguard, who ignored him, then screaming for the lifeguard, who ignored him again. He was screaming for his life and everyone thought it was a joke.
My dad told me he knew this was it and no one would save him. He was 20 feet deep and 200 feet out in the water, when two kids had found him and tried bringing him back.
Two men had brought him out of the water when they called for medical. No lifeguard had helped him through it all. Isn't that their job? There was no type of sympathy for my dad shown by any crew member. Through it all, no crew member had came to the stateroom or even called to see how he was doing. Absolutely nothing was done for him through it all even considering this all happened on THEIR island under their "lifeguards" supervision.
When I had spoke to guest services, she had absolutely no sympathy towards my dad. When I asked to speak to a manager she had told me he was not available. When I came back in the morning, she had told me he was still unavailable. All they had to say was that my dad owed his full medical bill fee, and we were not allowed off the ship until it was paid. My parents do not own credit cards therefore we were not prepaired to pay that type of money. The cruise line did not offer to pay a single dime, or give my dad any type of sympathy in any way.
My dad is the strongest man I know, and will fight through any sort of pain. Seeing him not being able to walk on his own and being so weak was the absolute worst feeling I have ever felt. I have never seen him the way he was, therefore I knew he was not ok.
The full funds will be going towards my dads medical fee. The doctors on the cruise did not closely look to see whether he had any damage to his lungs or other damage that was done to his body. All they cared about was the money. My dad had told me that prior to me arriving to the medical, he remembers them forcing him to sign papers in such critical condition with no explanation to what he was signing. He was in critical conditions and needed the assistance as soon as possible, therefore he signed it. These doctors definitely took advantage of him due to his state.
Please do not feel forced to donate any money, I would love for people to help raise awareness on how the Norwegian Escape completely AVOIDED my dads incident. Next time you are considering booking with Nowegian Cruise Lines, please remember this story!
I can't thank you all enough.
-Venezia Hebecker
Organizer
Venezia Hebecker
Organizer
Kitchener, ON