A model has been left with a devastating hip fracture after suffering a seizure and collapsing while waiting for a lift.
Melisa Moyano was in her apartment building in Mexico City when she suddenly began feeling dizzy before falling to the ground and convulsing.
The 4 November incident happened as she was waiting for the lift, with neighbours finding her collapsed on the floor and rushing to get her medical attention.
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The 40-year-old Argentine was taken to hospital, where doctors discovered she had suffered a serious fracture affecting her hip and femur.
But tests ahead of emergency surgery revealed an even more worrying development, with medics finding tumours around her hip, lesions on her spine and a suspicious growth on one of her lungs.
The findings have raised fears of a possible cancer diagnosis, although biopsies are still needed to establish exactly what she is suffering from.
“I’d never had an episode like this before. I’m a healthy person, I exercise, eat well and have always been very active,” Melisa told Argentine media.
The model, who has worked in fashion and advertising since the age of 18, has lived in Mexico for the past five years, as reported by Need To Know.
She also studied graphic design and developed a passion for painting during the COVID pandemic, eventually turning it into her own business.
Now, her family and friends are desperately trying to raise money to cover her treatment and get her back to Argentina.
The hip operation is estimated to cost nearly $30,000 (£23,000), while her hospital bill has already reached around $16,000 (£12,000).
However, the biggest obstacle is the journey home, with her injuries preventing her from travelling on a conventional commercial flight.
A medical evacuation aircraft, which would allow her to travel lying down with medical supervision, has been quoted at around $90,000 (£68,000).
Her mother and sister have travelled to Mexico to be by her side, while relatives have launched a fundraising campaign and organised raffles to help cover the costs.
“I’m amazed by the number of people helping me. There are people I haven’t seen in years and people who don’t even know me, yet they’re still coming forward to help,” Melisa said.
“Every day that passes is a race against the clock for someone in my situation.”
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