More Than $100K Raised For UGA Student On Life Support In Mexico

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO — A University of Georgia senior is on life support in Mexico while on spring break after her friends were unable to wake her up, according to a GoFundMe organized by Jennifer Ritter.

The GoFundMe, organized Sunday for Liza Burke, surpassed its $40,000 goal with more than a thousand donations. The fundraiser had raised more than $107,000 late Monday afternoon.

Ritter said all donations raised will go toward Burke's life-flight transport from Mexico to Jacksonville, Florida.

Burke woke up in Cabo San Lucas feeling good Friday but began to complain about a headache while at breakfast, Ritter wrote on the GoFundMe. She went to her room to rest, but her friends were unable to wake her up and called a doctor a few hours later, Ritter said.

She was taken to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation. Ritter said Burke suffered brain hemorrhage.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, arteriovenous malformation occurs when a group of blood vessels fail to form in the body correctly. Arteries and veins become "unusually tangled and form direct connections, bypassing normal tissues," Johns Hopkins said.

Ritter said doctors in Mexico agree Burke should be brought back to the U.S. for immediate care.

"So many people have reached out wanting to help, which is a testament to how many people Liza has touched," Ritter said on the GoFundMe. "She is genuine, dynamic, playful and fierce. She has so much left to give to the world."

Patch is a GoFundMe promotional partner.