Summary

Synopsis: A Kentucky woman is warning other travelers about the importance of travel insurance after her husband fell ill during a cruise and later died at a hospital.<pi />
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--SUPERS--
Friday
Versailles, KY

:00-:10
Courtesy: Barbara Smith

:11-:17
Barbara Smith
Husband fell ill on cruise

:18-:26
Courtesy: Barbara Smith

:40-:45
Courtesy: Barbara Smith

:55-:59
Courtesy: Barbara Smith

1:34-end
Courtesy: Barbara Smith

--LEAD IN--
A KENTUCKY WOMAN HAS A WARNING FOR OTHER TRAVELERS AFTER HER RECENT VACATION ENDED IN TRAGEDY.
HER HUSBAND FELL ILL ONE DAY INTO THEIR TRIP.
HE WAS RUSHED TO A HOSPITAL AND EVENTUALLY DIED FROM HEART COMPLICATIONS.
BUT THE COUPLE DIDN'T HAVE TRAVELER'S INSURANCE...
AND AS GRASON PASSMORE REPORTS -- SHE'S BEEN PAYING THE PRICE EVER SINCE.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
THIS PAST MAY, RICK AND BARBARA SMITH PLANNED TO SET OUT ON WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EIGHT DAY AMERICAN CRUISE LINES RIVER TRIP STARTING IN IDAHO.
Barbara Smith/Husband fell ill on cruise: "It was our dream vacation and it lasted 18 hours."
RICK WOKE UP THAT FIRST NIGHT UNABLE TO BREATHE. HE WOULD SPEND THE NEXT SIX DAYS IN A HOSPITAL IN WASHINGTON WHERE HE LEARNED HE HAD A LEAKY HEART VALVE.
Barbara Smith/Husband fell ill on cruise: "My husband was absolutely the best. A sweet, kind, caring man."
RICK WAS FLOWN TO UK HOSPITAL. HE CAME THROUGH HIS OPEN HEART SURGERY, BUT DIED 24 HOURS LATER. WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE...BARBARA WAS BATTLING THE CRUISE LINE COMPANY.
Barbara Smith/Husband fell ill on cruise: "His health is deteriorating. I don't know how I'm going to get home. Please just consider us with compassion and sympathy."
WHICH BARBARA SAYS THEY DIDN'T. NOW SHE DID SAY THEY DIDN'T HAVE TRAVELERS INSURANCE.
Barbara Smith/Husband fell ill on cruise: "That's a bad thing. But we were always healthy. We never thought we needed it."
BARBARA SAYS SHE NEVER ASKED OR EXPECTED HER MONEY BACK. SHE ASKED THE COMPANY FOR HELP REBOOKING NEW FLIGHTS, OR SOME TYPE OF RESPONSE AT THE VERY LEAST.
Barbara Smith/Husband fell ill on cruise: "Because I'm still getting questionnaires about how was our trip. It's like everything I wrote about Rick to them just went down some black hole."
LEAVING BARBARA JUST FEELING DISAPPOINTED AND THE LACK OF EMPATHY SHOWN
BARBARA SAYS JUST A LITTLE EMPATHY WOULD HAVE GONE A LONG WAY.
Barbara Smith/Husband fell ill on cruise: "When people ask us how long we've been married. I say not long enough. It could have gone a lot longer."
--TAG--
AMERICAN CRUISE LINES DID NOT RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT.
-----END-----CNN.SCRIPT-----

--KEYWORD TAGS--
KENTUCKY CRUISE SUMMER VACATION PLANS UNEXPECTED DEATH