Complex sentence: At first, she was due to go "to California, because at that time the Canadian hospitals were not able to perform such a complicated operation": her story made the headlines and people gave money generously to help her afford the trip.
Split into simpler sentences: At first, she was due to go to California, because at that time the Canadian hospitals were not able to perform such a complicated operation. Her story made the headlines and people gave money generously to help her afford the trip.