A widow whose husband died while on her “dream vacation” said she is bombarded with requests for reviews from the cruise company they booked through.
Barbara and Rick Smith of Versailles, Kentucky, embarked on an eight-day voyage with American Cruise Lines in May, something she said they had always wanted to do.
After leaving Idaho, the 33-year-old couple had to cut their trip short after Rick, 78, woke up in the middle of the night unable to breathe.
He was rushed to a hospital where doctors determined he had a leaky heart valve. After undergoing open heart surgery, Rick died on June 5, just 24 hours after his vacation began.
As Rick fought to stay alive, Barbra told the cruise line about her late husband’s medical nightmare, but they only sent her promotional mail.
‘I still get questionnaires about how our trip was. “I still get brochures in the mail for future trips,” Barbara said. WKYT.
Rick Smith, 78, died June 5, just 24 hours after he and his wife Barbara left for their “dream vacation” on an American Cruise Lines voyage.
After leaving Idaho, the 33-year-old couple had to cut their trip short after Rick woke up in the middle of the night unable to breathe.
‘It’s like everything I wrote to you about Rick has gone into a black hole. I can’t be mad at anyone because Rick died.
Barbara explained that Rick was initially taken to a hospital in Washington after he had trouble breathing during the cruise.
It was there that doctors realized he had a leaky heart valve. Once he was strong enough, Rick was taken closer to his home, at the University of Kentucky Hospital, where he later died.
‘I said my husband is in the hospital, his health is deteriorating. I don’t know how I’m going to get home. Please consider us with compassion and sympathy and respond… but you didn’t,” Barbara said.
The grieving wife said she is upset by the lack of attention and support American Cruise Lines has shown her when she asked for help rebooking flights and hotels. She added that she never received the company’s condolences.
She admitted that she and her husband did not have traveler insurance for their trip.
“That’s bad, but we were always healthy, we never thought we needed it,” Barbara said.
DailyMail.com has contacted American Cruise Lines for comment.
Rick was born in Toledo, Ohio and attended Baldwin Wallace University in Berea. He previously worked as a high school teacher and sports coach, according to his obituary.
As Rick fought to stay alive, Barbra told the cruise line about her late husband’s medical nightmare, but they only sent her promotional mail.
Rick was not only the “best friend” of his wife, whom he called Bobbie, but he was also a father of two children, a grandfather and a great-grandfather. (pictured: Rick with members of his family in 2011)
He later moved into human resources, working as a manager at Long John Silver’s. Rick then worked for other restaurants including Rally’s Hamburgers and Golden Corral.
He retired as executive vice president of human resources and training at Piccadilly Restaurants in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Rick was not only the “best friend” of his wife, whom he called Bobbie, but he was also the father of two children, a grandfather and a great-grandfather.
‘My husband was the absolute best. “A sweet, kind, caring man,” Barbara said.
‘People ask us how long we’ve been married. I say not enough. “It could have lasted much longer.”
Rick’s visitation was held Wednesday at Blackburn and Ward Funeral Home and a funeral service was held the next day at historic St. Paul Catholic Church in Lexington.
