Ayla Garcia had traveled to Kenya on a mission trip with her church and family
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- Ayla Garcia, a 36-year-old mother of four from Virginia, has died after contracting a Salmonella infection on a mission trip to Kenya
- Her illness was complicated by the fact that she had sickle cell disease
- “There are some goodbyes that leave you speechless, and this is one of them,” a friend of Garcia’s wrote in an emotional tribute following her death
A Virginia mother of four traveled overseas on a mission trip to help orphaned children. Now, her family is mourning her death after she contracted a foodborne illness.
Ayla Garcia traveled to Kenya on July 1 with her church and family to support Zion Family, a home for orphaned kids, per WWBT, WTVR and a GoFundMe set up to help cover her medical and funeral costs. The 36-year-old suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized in the ICU with a Salmonella infection that her family said she contracted from consuming contaminated ice.
Garcia’s illness was complicated by the fact that she had sickle cell disease, according to her family. Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder that affects the shape of red blood cells — which carry oxygen to all parts of the body — leading to symptoms including anemia, periodic episodes of extreme pain, frequent infections, vision problems and swelling of the hands and feet, per the Mayo Clinic.
Credit: GoFundMe
The bacterial infection spread to Garcia’s kidneys, liver and blood. She was given multiple blood transfusions due to low hemoglobin levels and developed jaundice, requiring dialysis treatments.
Garcia shared a video on Instagram of herself in her hospital bed on July 19. “Yes, I’m still in Kenya and I’m trying to make it home,” she said as she appeared to struggle to breathe.
In the days leading up to her hospitalization, Garcia shared highlights from her time in Kenya, including encounters with wildlife.
In a July 22 update on the GoFundMe, Garcia’s family shared that she was “progressing” in her recovery “but still not in the clear to be discharged from the hospital.”
“The work continues to improve the functioning of her kidneys,” the family wrote. “The oxygen support has been removed, and she’s been breathing on her own.”
Credit: Ayla Garcia/Instagram
Two days later, however, the family announced on the page that Garcia had died.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share our beloved daughter, sister, mother, aunt, cousin, niece, friend Ayla, has passed. Her fight against sickle cell was hard fought,” they wrote on July 24.
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In yet another update on July 25, the family said they were in the process of getting Garcia’s remains home and planning a memorial service “so we can gather and send her to rest in peace.”
Before her death, Garcia’s mother, Patricia, spoke to WWBT about how quickly her daughter’s illness escalated. “It was surprising and very concerning that this thing had taken over so much that they had to put her in ICU,” she said.
Credit: Ayla Garcia/Instagram
Zion Njeri, a friend of Garcia’s, shared a moving tribute to the mother of four on Instagram. Alongside photos and videos of Garcia, including clips of her in the hospital, she wrote, “There are some goodbyes that leave you speechless, and this is one of them.”
“Ayla Garcia, I still can’t believe you’re gone,” Njeri continued. “You were more than a friend you were my sister, my biggest supporter, and one of the greatest blessings God placed in my life. You stood by me musically, emotionally, physically, and in so many other ways. Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me, and reminding me to keep going even when things were hard.”
Njeri went on to share how she was with Garcia in the hospital and witnessed her “fight with incredible strength and faith” amid her illness.
“I’m grateful that I was there when you needed me,” Njeri wrote. “We had so many plans for when you got better. We talked about the future, laughed together, and believed there were brighter days ahead. But God, in His wisdom, had different plans. Even though my heart is broken and I struggle to understand, I choose to trust that you are now resting in perfect peace.”
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