SPANISH doctors treating a Co Down woman who has been left on a ventilator after she fell and suffered a head injury on holiday in Lanzarote have begun reducing her sedation ahead of evaluating her condition.
Lisa Tumilty (44), from Annaclone, had travelled to the Canary Islands with her husband Michael for a week-long break on March 2.
However, just three days later the cancer care nurse at Belfast City Hospital fell down three steps while returning to her hotel after dinner.
She was initially taken to a nearby hospital but due to the severity of her injury she was airlifted to the Dr Negrín University Hospital of Gran Canaria in Las Palmas where she was admitted to the intensive care unit.
Mrs Tumility remains in the unit on a ventilator in an induced coma.
Back home her distraught family have been taking it in turns to fly to Las Palmas to be with her and support Michael, who has remained at his wife’s bedside.
Doctors have told the family that Lisa, who is originally from Mayobridge, has a bleed on the brain.
A GoFundMe page set up to help with medical bills, travel and accommodation, has so far raised more than £50,000.
Speaking to The Irish News, Sonya Burns said doctors have been evaluating her sister daily and were now "very slowly reducing the sedation so that they can evaluate her condition".
The mother-of-one also revealed that a woman originally from Ballinderry, who now lives in Las Palmas, had make contact with the family after hearing their story and appeal for accommodation.
She has now sorted them an apartment where Lisa's husband, Michael and relatives, can stay.
Fluent in Spanish, she is also assisting the family with translations at the hospital.
"They are slightly reducing the medication and everything is going in the right direction," said Sonya.
"It is positive news".
Sonya, her son, Ollie, sister, Patricia and mother, Eilish are due to fly out to Gran Canaria on Friday to be with Lisa.
"It is very hard being thousands of miles away," she said.
"You can't jump in a car if anything happens. Fingers crossed it doesn't.
"This apartment is only a three minute drive from the hospital. We also need to support Michael. We will all be together".
She added: "The kindness of people has been unbelievable. It restores your faith in humanity".
Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com /f/lisa-tumilty-appeal.
