When Louise Carpino complained she had a ‘bloated belly’, she never thought the cause could be something so sinister.
But after suddenly becoming seriously ill during a trip to London, the American tourist rushed to A&E where medics made the shocking discovery that she had ‘fluid’ in her abdomen, which later revealed she had ovarian cancer that had already spread to her intestines.
When NHS doctors detected the fluid, they told her to seek her GP’s advice urgently upon returning to Philadelphia, where she was later given the ‘devastating’ diagnosis.
But her journey home was made all the more complicated when her plan to travel in comfort ‘backfired’ and she was ‘kicked off the plane’ by airline staff after they declared her unfit to fly because she showed them her hospital notes hoping to upgrade her booking.
Ms Carpino, 59, was forced to buy another ticket from a different airline to get home in time to see her GP.
The ordeal has left her unable to work after doctors in Philadelphia diagnosed her cancer and she has now begun chemotherapy.
Her friend, Afshin Feiz, from Kentish Town, in northwest London, has now launched a GoFundMe page to help Ms Carpino pay the bills through her treatment as she faces major surgery to remove the cancer.
Mr Feiz, 57, told the Daily Mail: ‘Louise was on holiday in London in March. Everything was fine, then in the last few days she was complaining about feeling super bloated.
Louise Carpino, 59, (right) was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after complaining of a ‘bloated belly’ while visiting her friend Afshin Feiz, 57, (left) in London
After experiencing intense pain, she rushed to A&E where medics discovered she had ‘fluid’ in her abdomen
Mr Feiz, 57, told the Daily Mail: ‘Louise was on holiday in London in March. Everything was fine, then in the last few days she was complaining about feeling super bloated.
‘I didn’t take it seriously at first as I thought she had just eaten too much but she described feeling like there was pressure in her belly pushing out.
‘Then it got to the point that she went to A&E to get checked out, which is when they did a scan and the doctor said they’d found liquid in her abdomen.
‘They said they didn’t want to cause alarm but that she needed to get checked out urgently when she was home in two days’ time.
‘But when she was at the airport, Louise called me and said the airline didn’t let her board the plane and they didn’t refund her ticket.
‘She wasn’t feeling good so she showed the doctor’s letter from A&E to the airline, hoping she would get an upgrade – but it backfired.
‘She was told she’s unfit to fly and they kicked her off the plane, so she had to buy a new ticket with a different airline.
‘When she got home, she went to the doctor and they did a scan and found out she had ovarian cancer which had spread to her intestines.
Ms Carpino was kicked off her flight home to Philadelphia after asking to upgrade her booking – but it ‘backfired’ as she was deemed unfit to fly and she was forced to buy another ticket from a different airline
‘She called me crying and upset, saying she thought it was just a bloated belly and that there was no indication it was anything else.
The pair met while Ms Carpino was on holiday in London in 2016 and have remained close friends ever since.
Ms Carpino, whose dream is to live in the capital, flies to the UK every few years to visit friends.
Mr Feiz said: ‘Louise was told she needs to have chemotherapy for 12 weeks and then if a full body scan shows signs of the cancer shrinking, they can operate – with six weeks to recover followed by another 12 weeks of chemo. All this time she can’t work, she can’t make money.’
He added that the ordeal has been traumatic for Ms Carpino as she has already begun to lose her ‘beautiful, thick red hair’, adding that ‘as a woman, her hair is a big part of her identity’.
Mr Feiz told the Mail: ‘Louise is quite a character, she’s loud and she’s fun to be around. I was immediately drawn to her. She’s really kindhearted, very spiritual and she’s always there for everyone.
‘Whenever she texts me, she names every person she wants me to send love to, including my dog and the people she’s met through me when she visits every two to three years.
‘Even in the middle of her suffering she wants to celebrate other people and their wins. She genuinely cares about people, she’s an inherently good person.’
He has so far raised more than £8,000 to support Ms Carpino and his friend has planned a 10k run around Hyde Park on May 30 to raise money for her too.
Mr Feiz described Ms Carpino as a ‘really kindhearted, very spiritual’ friend
His GoFundMe page states: ‘She is one of those rare people who truly shows up for others.
‘She notices the small things, gives without expecting anything in return, and brings warmth wherever she goes.
‘London became a special place for her. She saved hard-earned money for her first trip to Europe, and since then she has returned every couple of years. Over time, we became close friends.
‘On her most recent visit, something unexpected happened. Louise suddenly became very unwell and had to go to hospital in London, where doctors found fluid in her abdomen and advised urgent follow-up when she returned home…
‘Shortly after returning to Philadelphia, she received devastating news. Louise has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which has already spread to her intestines.
‘During this time, she will be unable to work and will be facing months without income, on top of everything else.
‘This fundraiser is to help support Louise through the months ahead – covering living expenses, medical-related costs, and giving her some stability while she focuses on treatment and recovery.’
