OGDEN — For 68-year-old Ogden resident Wanda Stamp, it was meant to be the trip of a lifetime.
She has been saving for years to fulfill her bucket list dream of visiting Germany.
“My mother loved Germany for as long as I can remember, ever since she talked about it,” Mallory DuBose said of her mother, Wanda Stamp. “For her, going to Germany was a dream come true.”
Stamp had been celebrating her retirement with her sister, Sandy, when they set off on a river cruise across Germany on July 20. But a few days into the trip, Stamp’s family noticed a disturbing change in her.
“She was starting to become a little paranoid. She was showing signs of confusion,” DuBose said.
DuBose said Stamp’s condition began with extreme mood swings, ranging from manic to depressive episodes, then she became confused and began forgetting basic things like the passcode to her phone.
About four days into the trip, Stamp began suffering from insomnia and was unable to sleep for three nights, DuBose said.
“My aunt had to stay in the room with her and sleep in front of the door to keep her safe,” DuBose said.
No signs before travel
On July 27, doctors were called to the ship and Stumpf was admitted to a hospital near Nuremberg.
“Doctors told us that Ms. Stamp had been experiencing an episode of manic psychosis,” DuBose said, adding that she had shown no signs of mental distress before the trip.
Stamp has been hospitalized for 15 days, and DuBose said she barely recognizes her family and her health has not improved.
“Thankfully, her condition isn’t getting worse, but she’s not making any progress either. She’s on so many medications that some days she can’t even open her eyes,” DuBose said. “I just try my best to tell her I love her because I know she’s still out there somewhere.”
DuBose is doing everything she can to get Stamp home: She tried to get him on a commercial flight with medical personnel, a move that would have cost $20,000, but German authorities rejected the plan.
Bring her home
DuBose said doctors in Germany wanted Stamp to fly back to the United States on a medical flight, a cost that would amount to $140,000.
“I definitely have mixed emotions about her having to continue to be there. It’s very frustrating, but I’m her only daughter, her only child and I know she would do anything for me, so I continue to do my best every day to reach out to whoever is needed to bring her home,” DuBose said.
DuBose has also been in contact with Rep. Blake Moore’s office, who KSL-TV reached out to for clarification and information regarding Stamp’s case.
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