Locals raised more than $1,500 on Thursday night to support the recovery of a Brunswick Heads woman who suffered a severe health breakdown while travelling in Europe.
Bianca Zonneveld, known as ‘Biddy’, had only just arrived in Italy on June 28 when she suffered a severe bout of Metabolic Acidosis due to complications related to a diabetes medication she was taking.
The 28-year-old local hospitality worker also went into respiratory failure due to an as-yet unidentified bacteria that went into her lungs.
After being shunted between different hospitals, Bianca ended up in the intensive care unit of San Raffaelle Hospital in Milan where she was in an induced coma and on a ventilator. She is now breathing on her own.
The young woman’s friends organised an event at Yami’s Cafe in Brunswick Heads to raise funds to help support her recovery, including helping her mother, Mon, stay in Italy until her daughter was well enough to travel home.
Dozens of locals feasted on curry, soup, as well as food from the regular menu, with Yami donating all proceeds to the cause. They also took part in a raffle and donated generously.
Yami’s owner, Zac Shabtai, said the generosity of Bianca’s friends and the local community had been ‘heart-warming and overwhelming’.
‘We managed to raise over $1500 in just a couple of hours!’ Mr Shabtai said.
‘The overall response from the community has been incredible. Bianca is in good spirits and can’t wait to thank you all when she comes back home very soon.’
