Porirua teen Ashen who caught meningitis in Bali finally home in New Zealand
A 16-year-old from New Zealand has returned home after being hospitalized in a coma in Bali due to bacterial meningitis. The teen contracted the illness from undercooked meat during a family vacation, leading to a significant medical and financial ordeal.
Why it matters
The story underscores the risks of international travel and the importance of adequate travel insurance for medical emergencies.
A Porirua teenager who had to be put into a coma in Bali after catching bacterial meningitis during his family’s “trip of a lifetime” has finally come home.
Ashen, 16, was previously in emergency care with swelling in his brain after eating undercooked meat on holiday, but has now recovered enough to return to New Zealand.
A Givealittle page was earlier set up by family friend Jordyne Lyons to help family members stay by his side.
She told the Herald the family arrived home on Friday last week, and now face the challenges of managing Ashen’s health and recovery before figuring out when to go back to work and daily life.
Ashen took the trip with his whānau, including parents Sheena and Ants, for Sheena’s 40th birthday.
Lyons described it as a “trip of a lifetime” which turned into “every parent’s worst nightmare”.
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