NZ woman’s GoFundMe Amanda Couchman’s $211k hospital bill

By Samantha Allen

Published: August 13, 2022 | 5:48 PM GMT

A tourist who almost died in a US hospital after contracting pneumonia has been handed a charge for more than $200,000.

Amanda Couchman, from New Zealand, was transported to a Los Angeles emergency room on July 1 after experiencing shortness of breath. She was placed on life support immediately, and physicians swiftly diagnosed her with pneumococcal pneumonia.

As a result of the illness, she had hypoxemic respiratory failure, numerous blood infections, and fluid in her lungs. A GoFundMe campaign for Ms Couchman (pictured) was set up to assist her in paying the enormous bill She was visiting LA for her cousin's wedding and returned to New Zealand with a whopping medical invoice of almost $US150,000 (pictured)

Ms Couchman was in Los Angeles for her cousin’s wedding, but she spent the day in the hospital.

She made it back to New Zealand and was greeted with a bill for $US147,595 ($A211,000).

Amanda concluded her message by thanking everyone who has sent her best wishes and has already provided assistance.

‘My relatives and friends.’ Every prayer, message, playlist, poetry written, bedtime tale read, phone call, voice message, and thought you sent me from afar and continue to send me. I could never repay you in the ways you have helped me, but… thank you from the bottom of my heart! ‘I am absolutely overwhelmed and filled with thanks and love for everyone,’ she added.

About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.