On my dream holiday, I nearly lost my life. In the hospital, I had to admit a shameful mistake – one every Aussie should know before they travel

A young Australian woman is an expensive and painful road to recovery after a truck smashed into her car while holidaying in Canada.

Chloe Mibus, from Hamilton Victoria, was driving by herself in Canada on October 2 when a truck crashed into her driver’s side door. 

Ms Mibus was momentarily trapped inside her car but managed to crawl out of her vehicle and call emergency services. 

She was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries including a lacerated spleen, serious internal bleeding, multiple pelvic bone breaks, pubic symphysis separation and a broken sacrum. 

Now, Ms Mibus faces up to four months of in-patient care followed by several months of outpatient rehabilitation. 

‘While I am grateful to be alive, the journey ahead is long, difficult, and uncertain,’ Ms Mibus said. 

‘Part of me still hopes I’ll wake up from this nightmare, with no scars and able to walk again immediately and have all my blood back where it’s supposed to be.’

Despite having insurance, her medical coverage had a very low cap, leaving her tens of thousands of dollars in debt from paying the Canadian hospital fees. 

The truck smashed into the driver’s side door and left Ms Mibus with life-threatening injuries ncluding a lacerated spleen, serious internal bleeding, multiple pelvic bone breaks, pubic symphysis separation and a broken sacrum

Her hospital stay alone — excluding treatments, medications, and services — cost nearly $5,000 per night. 

She’s now desperately trying to return to Australia for hip and pelvis realignment surgery, a procedure that would cost her “hundreds of thousands of dollars” if done in Canada. 

She has purchased mobility equipment including a wheelchair, walker and cushion and unsubsidised medication for the flight home. 

Her mum has also had to fly to Canada to accompany her on her flight home as she is not cleared to fly on her own. 

‘The costs for this journey are currently around $50,000,’ Ms Mibus said. 

Ms Mibus said had the accident happened in Australia she would have been able to focus on her recovery rather than the huge financial stress it has caused. 

In an effort to help pay for her hospital bills, she has set up a Gofundme to help raise money.

‘It’s been a rude and cruel awakening to realise that had this accident happened in Australia, there wouldn’t be this enormous financial strain on top of the numerous other challenges, like trying to stay alive,’ Ms Mibus said. 

‘It’s a deeply dehumanising experience. I’ll admit that setting up this GoFundMe raises many difficult emotions: sadness, shame, embarrassment, devastation, and heartbreak. 

‘This accident has been hell, and I need your support to come out the other side.’

Ms Mibus said she was ‘fiercely determined’ to focus on her blessings and use the ‘series of horrors’ to make herself a more compassionate and positive person. 

Ms Mibus has started a GoFundMe to help raise money to cover the exorbitant medical bills in Canada, her journey back to Australia for surgery, rehabilitation costs and living expenses 

‘Although some care will be subsidised in Australia, I’m very concerned about how much support I’ll truly need to find my place in this world again,’ Ms Mibus said. 

‘I’ve lived outside of Australia for the last two-and-a-half years, so I have concerns about where I might live during rehab, and transitioning back to life down under with such overwhelming physical and financial limitations. 

‘Given that the recovery is so long, my ability to generate income will be significantly impacted for many months so the thought of any more large, unexpected expenses is extremely daunting.’

She added those who are unable to make a financial contribution can make a difference by holding their loved ones and counting their blessings.