THE mum of a transplant patient has told how she was forced to pay £300 for new flights after her daughter was struck down with illness during a charity sports contest in Northern Ireland.
Jasmine Dowd, who underwent a lifesaving kidney operation a year ago, had a dream start at the Transplant Games in Belfast last weekend.
The eight-year-old from Tamworth, won three medals on the first day of the tournament, which was especially poignant as her life-saving donor was from the host city. But Jasmine’s joy turned to anxiety when she began vomiting and became dehydrated and was rushed into A&E.
Mum Claire Holloway feared her daughter’s illness was a sign her body was rejecting the kidney.
After five hours of tests and liaising with Birmingham Children’s Hospital Jasmine’s condition improved, but she was told she needed a day’s rest before flying home.
Yet when her mum and the hospital team tried to change her bmibaby flight from 8.35am yesterday to 7pm the airline insisted they had to buy new tickets.
Ms Holloway said: “Doctors said she was unfit to fly on the morning flight but when we tried to change the flight we were told we had to pay £317.
“It was a default response, but when you think the airline made the large booking for a group of transplant patient children they would understand that things like this happen. “I’ll get the money back from Transplant Games UK, but I think it’s unfair. It was the same flight just a few hours later and it was a medical reason. I will be making a complaint when I return.”
Jasmine, was one of 30 Birmingham Children’s Hospital patients to take part in the Games.
She won the badminton, table tennis and came second in the obstacle race before falling ill. She said: “I’m feeling much better now. I had a great time but my favourite sport is running so I was sad I didn’t get to take part in the track and field.”
Ms Holloway said: “It was poignant and emotional to bring Jasmine to the place where a donated kidney came from.”
Birmingham Children’s Hospital won 70 medals at the games, including the best children’s team trophy for the 15th year in a row.
Spokesman Karen Stevens said: “It’s been amazing to see the children with a new lease of life. It shows how important organ donation is.”
A bmibaby spokeswoman said: “Mrs Holloway could not answer the security questions therefore the team were unable to change the flight booking.
“Customers do also have the option to change flights on our website, in line with our terms and conditions.”
