The family of a retired British Army veteran is distressed as he remains stuck in a foreign hospital following a severe stroke. Michael Blake, aged 66, became paralyzed on his right side and lost his ability to communicate after the sudden incident on April 5. His son Terry, 43, shared that Michael had relocated to Cambodia after retiring from his military service and had last visited him just four weeks before the stroke.
Terry was shocked to find his father, whom he used to live with in Shoebury, Essex, lying on a hospital gurney with minimal medical attention after the emergency. Due to Cambodia’s healthcare system, Terry faced challenges in accessing his father’s insurance details without his consent, which Michael was incapable of providing in his current state.
Expressing his dismay, Terry described how his father had seemed content and happy since leaving the Army and settling in Cambodia, only for the situation to turn into a nightmare after the stroke. Upon learning of his father’s condition, Terry rushed to be by his side in the hospital, where he discovered Michael had been transferred between multiple medical facilities before landing at Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh.
Highlighting the urgency of immediate post-stroke care, Terry recounted the difficulty in ensuring proper treatment for his father, who had been left unattended for crucial hours following the stroke. With the complexities of accessing insurance without Michael’s consent, the family faced obstacles in covering the mounting medical expenses.
Despite challenges, Michael was recently moved out of the intensive care unit and onto a general ward. Terry has returned to the UK to coordinate efforts to bring his father back home. To aid in funding Michael’s repatriation and medical costs, the family has initiated a fundraising campaign, aiming to gather support from the public.
Michael, who served in various regions during his military career, including Belize, Bosnia, Africa, and Sudan, had found solace in Cambodia post-retirement. Terry shared how his father had supported him during a health crisis and later pursued his own happiness in Cambodia, surrounded by a supportive community.
With significant financial obligations for Michael’s ongoing treatment, the family has sought assistance from organizations like the Royal British Legion and launched a GoFundMe page to rally further support for his healthcare expenses.
