A Southern California woman has suffered life-changing injuries following a horrific fall during a vacation in Cancún, Mexico.
As she lay seriously injured with fears she could be paralyzed, she endured a desperate wait for treatment while being transferred between hospitals.
According to reports, doctors refused to operate until she paid 420,000 Mexican pesos, roughly $24,000.
Woman Nearly Paralyzed After Horrific ATV Accident
Nina Bakhshi had been celebrating a birthday getaway in Cancun when the terrifying incident occurred.
Bakhshi reportedly fell from a bridge while riding an ATV, suffering severe fractures to her spine and neck.
The horrifying moment was captured on her cellphone footage, with her boyfriend heard frantically calling out for her after the fall.
Because the accident happened on a remote trail, rescuers strapped her to a board and carried her for around 30 minutes while trying to reach an ambulance.
However, according to reports, the ambulance never arrived.
Instead, people transported Bakhshi between multiple hospitals as complications surrounding her lack of travel insurance delayed treatment.
Family And Friends Scrambled to Pay for Surgery
As the hours passed, Bakhshi and her family desperately tried to gather enough money for emergency surgery.
She reportedly maxed out credit cards while friends and relatives sent financial support.
Doctors eventually operated on her lower back after a 28-hour delay.
"The worst part of the fall was getting to the surgery," she said, via KTLA. "There were so many obstacles."
"The accident was painful, but trying to fight the system to get help for my surgery while I'm being told, 'you might be paralyzed,' it was so much, and so scary."
"...I remember my brother was begging the doctors there that we pay the price for the pain medicine, 'just give her the pain medicine,' because I was screaming from pain, and they would just say 'no.'"
Doctors later told Bakhshi that leaves beneath the bridge likely softened the impact and may have prevented paralysis.
She said the ordeal has completely changed her outlook on life.
She added that she now has a "different perspective on life," saying she is "grateful to be alive, and grateful to walk again, hopefully soon."
A GoFundMe campaign has since raised around $50,000 toward a $58,000 goal to help cover medical expenses.
Doctors expect Bakhshi to return to Los Angeles within the next two weeks.
She will reportedly wear a neck brace for five months and faces a long rehabilitation process before walking normally again.
