2 paramedics struck by car in Las Vegas have returned to Sask. with massive medical bills

Two young Saskatchewan women who went to Las Vegas to celebrate a birthday — and were hit by a car at a crosswalk in the city — are now back in their home province.

On top of multiple broken bones and a lot of pain, Katrine Sinclair and Charlie Lastowski were left with huge medical bills for the treatment they received at a U.S. hospital. 

Roberta Sinclair, Katrine's mother, said Katrine's bill after two to three days in the hospital was $144,000 US. 

"I actually wrote a cheque and my hands were shaking," Roberta said on CBC Saskatchewan's The 306. "I wrote a cheque for $21,621. I've never written such a big cheque in my life."

Roberta said she made arrangements with the bank Saturday before she flew to Las Vegas.

"We Canadians never see the cost up front for a medical [expense] and in the States they hand you an invoice with itemized items," she said. "My daughter had to have six CT scans for $38,000 to $40,000 [US]." 

Meanwhile, the air ambulance they used to transfer her daughter ended up costing around $45,000 US.

"It's incredible the cost, but this was a situation where [we thought] you know what, we need to do this," said Roberta. "You cannot put a price tag on your child's life."

Family, friends and community members have raised close to $90,000 via a GoFundMe campaign started by a family friend of Sinclairs.

The GoFundMe said Lastowsky had partial insurance, and Katrine's coverage stopped on her 21st birthday, hours before the collision in Las Vegas.

"My health insurance expired on [Katrine]," Roberta previously told CBC. "And being a young girl, she did not purchase extra medical insurance for the trip."

SGI told CBC on Thursday that it couldn't comment on specific cases due to privacy, but confirmed no-fault auto injury coverage is provided to Saskatchewan residents hurt by a vehicle anywhere in Canada or the United States, even if they don't hold a driver's licence or register a vehicle in Saskatchewan. This includes pedestrians hit by vehicles.

"No fault injury coverage includes benefits of income replacement, living assistance, or expenses related to the injuries sustained in the collision," SGI said in a statement. "If you need medical attention outside of Saskatchewan, you may be covered for things like getting an ambulance or staying in the hospital. It may also cover travel expenses to help you get home."

In a later interview with CBC, Roberta said it's still unclear to her how much SGI will cover.

With the women now back in Saskatchewan, Roberta said they are finding more fractures and broken bones as the swelling goes down.

Katrine has a broken right humerus, one broken rib on her right side, three pelvis fractures, L3, L4, L5 vertebrae fractures and a tibia plateau fracture.

Being a paramedic has helped Katrine accurately assess her pain for doctors.

"She's able to analyze herself," Roberta said. "She was saying, 'My knee is really sore. It's more swollen. This isn't right.' I think that's one of the biggest things she says is they're listening to her."

Roberta used a line of credit to help pay some of the hospital bill and the air ambulance. She thanked the community, first responders and people who have donated.