Charity worker in ICU after being found unconscious in her Bali hotel room

An Australian woman is currently in the ICU in Bali after she was found unconscious in her hotel room.

Deborah Stone, originally from the Gold Coast, has been living in the tourist hotspot for the past few years, spending most of her time doing charity and volunteer work to assist locals.

The 66-year-old was due to fly back to Australia this Thursday to help her daughter Fiona Gunn with wedding plans, but to her family’s horror, she was found unconscious in her Legian, Bali hotel room.

Fiona, 34, had received a devastating phone call on August 11 from her sister Nichole, 47, that their mother had been rushed to the intensive care unit of BIMC Hospital Nusa Dua Bali — about a 25 minute drive from the popular beach location she was staying in.

Stone’s brother Max who is currently holidaying in Bali and visiting his sister, went to check on her, knowing she had been sick.

“He was really concerned – he had hotel staff open the room and that’s when they found her unconscious,” a distraught Fiona told news.com.au.

“I was talking to her last Tuesday and she was being treated for a migraine, vomiting and diarrhea.”

Fiona said on admission, her mother was dehydrated with severe electrolyte imbalances.

“We spoke to the head doctor in ICU on Sunday and he told us she sustained a brain injury and they don’t know whether it was a stroke that caused the swelling (on her brain) and limited blood flow or severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance,” she explained.

Stone has since regained consciousness where she remains in serious, but stable condition.

“She is verbal and we were able to talk to her, but she is slurring and bed bound,” Fiona said.

“At this stage they don’t know the extent of neurological damage.”

Fiona’s mother’s news came not long Fiona’s father-in-law spent three weeks on life-support.

“We had just celebrated him coming home … and then to hear what’s happened to mum. I couldn’t believe it, it’s like a bad dream.”

She said it has been a really challenging time, describing it as a “nightmare”.

The 34-year-old has since started a GoFundMe to help raise funds towards her mother’s medical costs which as of Sunday — three days into her hospital stay — is in excess of $14,270.

She said in Bali they require upfront payment “so we are scrambling to find as much money as we can to cover her treatment.”

She added that unfortunately her mother didn’t take out travel insurance, advising fellow Australians to make it a priority as “you don’t know what can happen.”

“We also have no idea how long she will need to be hospitalized and how much ongoing care she will need,” Fiona explained.

So far, $4,816 out the $32,500 goal has been raised with an emotional Fiona thanking those who have dug deep.

“We have honesty been completely blown away and so overwhelmed with everyone’s generosity,” she told news.com.au.

“And not just the funds, but by the amount of people who have reached out to offer words of support, pray and give us strength in this time.”

Fiona said she is taking everyday as it comes, with wedding plans on hold as the family focuses on getting through such a challenging time.

“Our goal is to get her well enough to be able to get her back home so she is here with family and provide her with the treatment she needs,” Fiona said.

Fiona described her mom as an extremely generous woman who was fundraising and doing charitable work with locals in Bali — such as purchasing and donating food and clothing packages — before her horrible incident.

“She has always been passionate about helping others in less fortunate positions throughout her life and we know that she has made a difference to many people’s lives,” Fiona wrote on the GoFundMe.

“If you don’t know Debbie personally, she has cooked meals for the homeless, been a foster parent and raised funds for the less fortunate.”

Just a few months ago, Stone started her own GoFundMe to raise funds for the less fortunate.

“Those of you who know me well are aware that I’ve been caring for people most of my life,” Stone wrote on the page.

“My late husband and I had a dream, which took the sacrifice of giving up a permanent home so we could travel, identify needs and try to fill them.”

Fiona said the family wouldn’t know what we would do without the funds that have been raised to date.

“We thank you all for reaching out to us and we have passed these words onto Debbie today,” she said.

“She was so grateful and overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown.

“We know that not everyone is financially able to give so we are asking that you please share this far and wide because every share counts. Please continue to pray we have already seen prayers answered.”