Former Toronto Argonaut cheerleader Anna Leibenko planned her European summer vacation with her 3 friends. It would be a month to remember.

Anna celebrated her 24th birthday in Florence at the end of July, then toured Greece, then made her way to Yacht Week in Croatia. People rent yachts, explore the caves, lagoons and islands of the Adriatic, swim, party, socialize. Sounds great doesn't it?

VACATION NIGHTMARE

Last Friday about 6 a.m. Anna and her friends decided to take the 10 foot dive off the boat into the warm sea waters. Anna slipped on some steps, hit her head and was unconscious when she hit the water. Friends immediately knew something was wrong and went to her assistance. Another went to get a doctor from Brazil who was 10 boats over.

A medical helicopter took her to hospital in Split, Croatia where she is in an induced coma, on life support, with various brain and lung contusions, and fractured facial bones. Her mother flew to be by her side. There are small signs of her progress but she must be kept there at least a few more days until she is stable enough to be flown back to Toronto, a medical flight reportedly costing $93,000. There are also the mounting Croatian medical bills.

Of course she had no travel medical insurance. I say of course, because this is partly why her story is being shared. Family and friends have set up this website and have raised about $40K so far. I also say of course, because most young people decline the insurance when traveling. You're young, healthy, bullet-proof, what could possibly happen? Two of her friends had insurance. Anna did not.

Believe me, I'm not here to sell you insurance, or to tell you to help this family, but if there ever was a statement as to the frailty of life, this is it. Some have already said, that if she wasn't an attractive 24 yr. old woman, she wouldn't even be getting this much attention. Perhaps.

Whether you help or not is of course up to you. All I say is that any time you step outside this province, think..."What if something happened? What is my back up plan?" LEAVE COMMENTS.

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