‘I didn’t know what to do’: Family out of pocket tens of thousands of dollar after health battle

This family has been left stunned by their local community’s generosity to raise $25k in four days after their patriarch suffered multiple strokes and was hit with a shocking hospital bill.

Nishan Singh, who is in hospital after suffering multiple strokes with his daughter Harpreet Kaur and her husband. Picture: Supplied by family

A community has rallied to support Nishan Singh’s family who has been left out of pocket tens of thousands of dollars after he suffered multiple strokes.

On February 7 Nishan Singh flew from New Zealand, where he was visiting his son, to Adelaide to stay with his daughter Harpreet Kaur, in Klemzig.

Two days before he was due to return to his hometown in Punjab, India he was rushed to hospital having suffered a stroke a few days prior.

“He woke up saying ‘I’m not feeling the best’,” his daughter Ms Kaur told The Advertiser.

Nishan Singh with his daughters who haven’t left his bedside since he was admitted into hospital. Picture: Supplied by family

“We booked a GP appointment … the doctors said to have a blood test done and a scan done.”

The results showed Mr Singh suffered a stroke and needed to be brought to the emergency room straightaway.

After four nights at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the 71-year-old received a bill for around $11,000 for the stay.

“They (doctors) were planning on doing surgery but … surgery was going to cost us $30,000,” Ms Kaur said.

“I told doctors I would pay in instalments, let’s do the surgery.”

But it was ultimately decided Mr Singh wouldn’t need the surgery and regular medication should keep him stable.

Nishan Singh, who is in hospital after suffering multiple strokes with his grandchildren. Picture: Supplied by family

In a tragic twist of fate a month after he was discharged from hospital, on March 26, Ms Kaur’s daughter found her grandfather collapsed on the kitchen floor.

“I didn’t know what to do … I couldn’t even lift him because he’s so heavy so I had to call the ambulance,” Ms Kaur said.

He had suffered another serious stroke and was rushed back to the RAH in an ambulance.

Doctors performed two surgeries to attempt to relieve blood clots found throughout Mr Singh’s body.

“He’s emotionally very down, he’s not talking,” Ms Kaur said.

Mr Singh, who is now paralysed on his entire right side, has been in hospital since, costing his family around $4000 a day just for his room and $10,000 for his surgeries.

“I don’t want to think about it, I think it (the second bill) will be over $50,000,” Ms Kaur said.

Ms Kaur and her sister take turns to stay by their father’s side while he continues to recover.

“He can’t speak the language … we have to around him all the time because when they (medical staff) come, they can’t (communicate),” Ms Kaur said.

The Punjab community has rallied behind the family through this tough time, with 546 donations accumulating over $25,000 in just four days.

“I’m feeling so much gratitude just knowing that people think about us, people care about us,” Ms Kaur said.

For Mr Singh, he is still recovering in hospital and will later likely transfer to a rehab facility which Ms Kaur said she was quoted around $800 a day.

If you’d like to donate to Ms Singh, you can here.

Originally published as ‘I didn’t know what to do’: Family out of pocket tens of thousands of dollar after health battle