A Kiwi mum is stranded in Dubai after authorities seized her passport over an unpaid medical bill.
Janet Fletcher, 47, travelled to the United Arab Emirates for a gastric sleeve operation which would have given her a "better standard of life", her husband Graeme posted on a Givealittle fundraising page.
Her sister paid for the $16,500 operation, but the costs blew out after the surgery failed and Ms Fletcher ended up in intensive care with septic shock and acute kidney failure. The hospital bill grew to $64,000, her husband said.
"Janet's sister is now unable to pay these increased charges and neither can I."
Her passport has been seized and she is unable to leave the country until the bill is paid.
"Please help bring my wife home so that we can all be a family again," Mr Fletcher urged.
