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‘Very concerning’: Mother of 4 fighting for her life after contracting salmonella on church trip
Summary by The Nashville Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Cherisse Hoffman, Jordan Gartner , WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 23, 2026
· 2 min read
RICHMOND, Va. ( WWBT /Gray News) - A Virginia mother of four has been hospitalized in Kenya after contracting a salmonella infection during a mission trip. Ayla Garcia traveled to Kenya on June 30 with her church and family to support an orphanage. However, Garcia has since been hospitalized for ...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Nashville Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Cherisse Hoffman, Jordan Gartner, WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 23, 2026 Indexed here Jul 23, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Ayla Garcia traveled to Kenya on June 30 with her church and family to support an orphanage.
Why this matters in The Nashville
Nashville's own community of faith-based organizations and mission trip participants are likely watching this story with great concern, given the city's strong reputation for international outreach and volunteer work. The Garcia family's experience serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in traveling abroad, particularly for those with pre-existing medical conditions like sickle cell disease. As the family navigates the complex and costly process of securing a medical evacuation, Nashville's community may be called upon to offer support and resources. Local churches and organizations that sponsor mission trips may also be re-examining their protocols for ensuring the health and safety of participants, especially in regions with limited medical infrastructure. The outpouring of support for the Garcia family, including the GoFundMe campaign, demonstrates the power of community rallying around those in need, a spirit that is alive and well in Nashville.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 23, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 2 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? RICHMOND, Va. ( WWBT /Gray News) - A Virginia mother of four has been hospitalized in Kenya after contracting a salmonella infection during a mission trip. Ayla Garcia traveled to Kenya on June 30 with her church and family to support an orphanage. However, Garcia has since been hospitalized for ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Cherisse Hoffman, Jordan Gartner at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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