Virginia mother dies after contracting salmonella on mission trip

Ismaili Muslim-run hospital requires full payment before releasing body

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Monday, July 27, 2026

A Virginia mother who contracted salmonella while serving at an orphanage in Kenya died before she could be medically evacuated to the United States, as supporters raced to raise the funds needed to bring her home for treatment.

The death of Ayla Garcia, 36, who had traveled to Kenya with the Richmond-based Overflow Christian Church, was confirmed in an update on a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $33,800 to fund her care and medical evacuation. Now they are focused on returning her body to her family, including her four children.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share our beloved — daughter, sister, mother, aunt, cousin, niece, friend — Ayla, has passed. Her fight against sickle cell was hard fought. As a result of this, our goal has only changed slightly,” campaign organizer Tabatha Garcia said. “Aga [Khan] University Hospital (an Ismaili Muslim operated facility) requires full payment for medical services rendered for her body to be released to come home. Our goal remains to bring her home where we can properly lay her to rest. While we are still gathering details, your continued support is appreciated.”

According to the campaign, Ayla Garcia traveled to Kenya on July 1 to support the Zion Family, a children’s home for boys and girls who were orphaned and are now adopted. Her family told WRIC they believe she contracted salmonella after consuming contaminated ice and was hospitalized on July 11.

The beloved mother who suffered from sickle cell disease developed an infection in her kidney, liver and blood, and doctors advised that she could not take a commercial flight back to the U.S. for treatment and would need a medical evacuation, which would have cost more than $250,000.

Overflow Christian Church did not immediately respond to questions from The Christian Post on Monday. 

In her last post on Facebook on July 19, Ayla Garcia, who has three sons and a daughter, offered encouragement to her “boys” and family as she declared her sickness “is real” and “I’m trying to make it home.”

Many who knew her are now sharing memories of how faithful she was even up until her death.

“I remember the nights we spent together in the hospital. I watched you fight with incredible strength and faith. Even through the pain, we worshipped together, and you kept saying, ‘God didn’t bring me this far to fail.’ Your faith never wavered, and that’s one of the many things I admired most about you. Your love for God was so genuine, so beautiful, and so inspiring,” wrote her friend, Zion Njeri, in a statement on Facebook.

“I’m grateful that I was there when you needed me. We had so many plans for when you got better. We talked about the future, laughed together, and believed there were brighter days ahead. But God, in His wisdom, had different plans. Even though my heart is broken and I struggle to understand, I choose to trust that you are now resting in perfect peace.”