U.S. Mother of Four Dies on Kenya Mission Trip After Salmonella Infection

Ayla Garcia, a 36‑year‑old mother of four from Richmond, Virginia, traveled to Kenya on June 30 with a church group to support the Zion Family orphanage. While in Nairobi she contracted a salmonella infection, reportedly from contaminated ice, and was hospitalized.

Garcia, who lived with sickle cell disease, experienced severe complications as the infection spread to her kidneys, liver and bloodstream. She required multiple blood transfusions, dialysis and developed jaundice before succumbing to the illness after nearly two weeks in the Nairobi hospital.

Her family launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the outstanding medical bills and the cost of repatriating her body to the United States. The fundraiser aims to raise roughly $28,000 to settle hospital charges and arrange transport home.