My brother died alone in an ambulance in Jamaica after a nine-hour delay. I didn’t know how to help him. Now, I’ll never travel—or let anyone I love travel—without adequate insurance again.
There are moments in life that divide everything into before and after. For me, that moment came with a phone call I’ll never forget. My brother had gone on vacation to Jamaica—a trip he was so excited about. He needed a break, time to relax, and enjoy some sunshine. He traveled alone, eager to recharge.
Then I got the call: he was in medical distress.
What followed was a blur of panic, helplessness, and heartache. He was seriously ill, and the local resources weren’t enough. I tried everything from afar—calling, coordinating, pleading for someone to help get him transferred. But we hit delay after delay. Every passing hour felt like another missed chance to save him.
Nine hours passed.
My brother died in the back of an ambulance on the way to the airport. He was being taken for a medical flight—far too late. He died trying to get home.
And all I could think was: If only I had known what to do.
If I had called the American Embassy in Jamaica immediately, they could have guided me. If he had travel insurance that included emergency medical evacuation, we could have arranged for professionals to fly down and bring him home safely—sooner.
If I had known the names of U.S.-based medical transport companies, I would’ve called them in a heartbeat.
But I didn’t know. And now I live with that.
Since then, I’ve made it my mission to tell others: Do not travel without comprehensive travel insurance. Make sure it includes:
- Emergency medical care
- Medical evacuation and repatriation
- 24/7 support services
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions
Even more important: know what to do in a crisis. Write down the contact information for your country’s embassy. Make sure your family knows how to reach you. And if anything ever goes wrong, don’t wait—ask for help immediately.
Travel should be about joy, not regret. But I will carry this regret forever. I couldn’t save my brother. But maybe my story will save someone else.
