JenLoves2Dive
Contributor
Hello All.
This is an update and request for help from Scuba Mau.
I just want everyone to know that the following letter was written on behalf of our friends and family at Scuba Mau and the families and loved ones of Opal, Gabi and Heath.
Everyone, Opal's mom, her brothers, Gabi and Heath and the management of the dive shop have all approved the letter.
Thank for letting me relay it to you all.
Jen
To all the friends of Opal Cohn Torelli, Gabriel Silva (Gabi Loco) of ScubaMau and Heath Hood.
We want to thank all of you for your calls, thoughts and prayers for Opal and Gabi and Heath during this very difficult time.
Many of you in the dive community may already be aware of the serious dive accident that took place on Saturday, September 3rd in Cozumel, involving Opal, Gabi Loco and Heath Hood. The accident resulted in serious decompression injuries for all three and the most gravely injured was Opal.
Currently, Opal is in intensive critical care at San Miguel Hospital and is paralyzed and sedated, unable to breathe on her own, and is intubated and breathing via a ventilator. Because Opal did not have any type of insurance, costs are quickly mounting and her medical care here in Cozumel is very limited.
Most urgently, Opal needs to be transferred to a hospital in the U.S. in the next 12 – 48 hours. Because she has been intubated for the last 5 days, it will be medically necessary to move her immediately to a facility that can perform a tracheotomy, as the intubation is becoming increasingly unstable and her life is at serious risk.
Divemaster Gabi Loco, is also in very serious condition and at this report is unable to walk and has no movement in his legs. Our dear friend, Gabi is the father of three and is unable to work. He also does not have insurance and needs hyperbaric treatments for the next 2-3 months and physical therapy to be able to walk again. Fortunately for Health, he has full coverage health care and D.A.N. insurance that will fully cover his expenses.
We have set up a Pay Pal accounts for Opal and Gabi and ALL donations raised will go directly to all their medical expenses including the hyperbaric chamber expenses, hospital bills, doctor bills, and transportation costs. Additionally, the cost to move Opal to a U.S. hospital is approximately $20,000 USD.
PLEASE…time is of the essence. Please donate any amount to help toward these staggering medical costs. Right now, it is URGENT that Opal be moved to a U.S. facility as soon as possible. She is becoming increasingly unstable and time is of the essence.
We have set up two Pay Pal accounts for the benefit of Opal and Gabi.
For OPAL please donate to: MedicalCare4Opal@gmail.com
For Gabi please donate to: MedicalCare4Gabi@gmail.com.
We are saddened and devastated by what has happened to our very dear friends and are asking you to please help us help them. Please forward this on to your friends and family in the dive community.
We area a strong but resilient community, yet, words cannot express enough from the families of Opal, Gabi and Heath their deepest appreciation. We will continue to update everyone here and also on ScubaMau Facebook page. Please feel free to post from your heart.
PLEASE keep them in your prayers!
With much love,
Scuba Mau
This is an update and request for help from Scuba Mau.
I just want everyone to know that the following letter was written on behalf of our friends and family at Scuba Mau and the families and loved ones of Opal, Gabi and Heath.
Everyone, Opal's mom, her brothers, Gabi and Heath and the management of the dive shop have all approved the letter.
Thank for letting me relay it to you all.
Jen
To all the friends of Opal Cohn Torelli, Gabriel Silva (Gabi Loco) of ScubaMau and Heath Hood.
We want to thank all of you for your calls, thoughts and prayers for Opal and Gabi and Heath during this very difficult time.
Many of you in the dive community may already be aware of the serious dive accident that took place on Saturday, September 3rd in Cozumel, involving Opal, Gabi Loco and Heath Hood. The accident resulted in serious decompression injuries for all three and the most gravely injured was Opal.
Currently, Opal is in intensive critical care at San Miguel Hospital and is paralyzed and sedated, unable to breathe on her own, and is intubated and breathing via a ventilator. Because Opal did not have any type of insurance, costs are quickly mounting and her medical care here in Cozumel is very limited.
Most urgently, Opal needs to be transferred to a hospital in the U.S. in the next 12 – 48 hours. Because she has been intubated for the last 5 days, it will be medically necessary to move her immediately to a facility that can perform a tracheotomy, as the intubation is becoming increasingly unstable and her life is at serious risk.
Divemaster Gabi Loco, is also in very serious condition and at this report is unable to walk and has no movement in his legs. Our dear friend, Gabi is the father of three and is unable to work. He also does not have insurance and needs hyperbaric treatments for the next 2-3 months and physical therapy to be able to walk again. Fortunately for Health, he has full coverage health care and D.A.N. insurance that will fully cover his expenses.
We have set up a Pay Pal accounts for Opal and Gabi and ALL donations raised will go directly to all their medical expenses including the hyperbaric chamber expenses, hospital bills, doctor bills, and transportation costs. Additionally, the cost to move Opal to a U.S. hospital is approximately $20,000 USD.
PLEASE…time is of the essence. Please donate any amount to help toward these staggering medical costs. Right now, it is URGENT that Opal be moved to a U.S. facility as soon as possible. She is becoming increasingly unstable and time is of the essence.
We have set up two Pay Pal accounts for the benefit of Opal and Gabi.
For OPAL please donate to: MedicalCare4Opal@gmail.com
For Gabi please donate to: MedicalCare4Gabi@gmail.com.
We are saddened and devastated by what has happened to our very dear friends and are asking you to please help us help them. Please forward this on to your friends and family in the dive community.
We area a strong but resilient community, yet, words cannot express enough from the families of Opal, Gabi and Heath their deepest appreciation. We will continue to update everyone here and also on ScubaMau Facebook page. Please feel free to post from your heart.
PLEASE keep them in your prayers!
With much love,
Scuba Mau
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Our abundant prayers are with them all 
