In the classic Eagles’ song “Hotel California,” the lyrics speak of the infamous place where “you can check out any time you want but you can never leave.” This verse became reality for an Atlanta-area couple whose Caribbean cruise turned into a veritable nightmare—they virtually became hostages of a Mexican hospital until they paid a massive medical bill.
When Sandy Spring, Georgia, resident Stephen Johnson and his fiancée, Tori Austin, embarked on a Carnival cruise that took them to the Mexican Riviera, they thought that they were headed for sunshine and beautiful beaches. But Johnson, who has diabetes, experienced a severe shock that left him in dire condition. It turned out that he also had a kidney infection and needed to be put on dialysis and a ventilator.
They got off the ship at Progreso, Mexico, and rushed to the hospital for treatment. After three days in the ICU, Johnson’s condition stabilized, but then the bill showed up—$14,000. And the hospital administrator told the couple that either they pay it in full or they weren’t allowed to leave.
“We don’t have $14,000 right away,” Austin said. “So we offered to pay some, to even do a promissory note.” But regardless of their efforts to find a solution, the couple were stonewalled. “The administrator lady here said absolutely not,” she added.
While Johnson doesn’t have medical insurance, most American plans don’t even cover expenses incurred abroad, which require a special travel policy that functions in the countries being visited. While the couple had been in touch with the U.S. Embassy and Carnival’s support team, they couldn’t get the hospital to budge.
The couple had Johnson’s younger sister, Desaree Grimes, start an online fundraising campaign, claiming that the hospital “will not release him until they receive funds.”
She asked friends to “[p]lease consider making a donation to help with the costs of his medical bills as his life is being threatened.” But up to Nov. 25, 2019, the campaign had only raised $1,200.
That’s when their proverbial guardian angel, Tyler Perry, swooped in. The creator of comedy film character “Medea” and owner of his own Tyler Perry Studios heard about the couple’s plight on the news and wanted to help. Perry first attempted to give the hospital his credit card to pay the bill once and for all, but they insisted on a wire transfer instead.
This will take a few more days, but at least Johnson and Austin know that they can go home. Speaking of Perry’s gesture, Johnson said to CBS, “I owe him my life and I hope to get to meet him when I get back to Atlanta because he deserved the biggest hug.”
Meanwhile, he and Austin are eager to get their lives back. “It’s been hard,” Austin told WSB. “We both have jobs. We have animals. We have families.” It’s possible that Johnson and Austin will make it home in time for Thanksgiving and shall likely be giving thanks for their gracious benefactor.
