Baby who arrived 15 weeks early... and left parents stuck in Singapore with a £140k bill
ClutChing his mother’s fingertip, little lorcan fights for his life in Singapore after being born 15 weeks early.
But now his parents face a different battle – having been hit with a £140,000 hospital bill.
Chloe Wilkinson, 30, and Patraic Walsh-Kavanagh, 27, were on a yearlong tour of Australia when Chloe found out she was pregnant and they decided to return home.
But during a wait in Singapore for their connecting flight to the uK, Miss Wilkinson developed an infection and went into labour.
Doctors tried desperately to delay the birth, but lorcan arrived at 25 weeks on February 26, weighing just 1lb 9oz.
Even before his arrival, the parents were handed an estimated sixfigure bill to cover the cost of care for Miss Wilkinson and her son.
the couple have been told if all goes well lorcan is likely to be kept in hospital for three months, but complications and problems are expected with babies of his size.
Although they took out travel insurance for the trip, they have been told the policy does not cover pregnancy. now the parents have launched an online appeal to raise the funds they need to cover the medical bills.
Miss Wilkinson, a teaching assistant from lincoln, said: ‘ lorcan’s been fighting with all his might and we are bursting with pride at the strength he is showing so far.
‘however, we are on our own, a 14hour flight away from our family and friends, and it has been a very difficult start to parenthood while lorcan is in hospital.
‘it’s still such a huge shock to when they got home. But during us both that he’s here but a two-day stopover in Singapore, we’re doing everything we possibly Miss Wilkinson suffered can to ensure we all get bleeding and cramps and back to the uK.’ went into labour at 24 weeks.
the couple left in December tests showed she had an 2017 to travel around Asia infection and doctors put her before working in Australia. on medication to reduce the
Miss Wilkinson discovered contractions. she was pregnant in november But as Miss Wilkinson was and the couple planned to tell admitted to Singapore general their families the happy news hospital, her partner Mr Walsh-Kavanagh, a plumber, was handed an estimated bill of £140,000.
he said: ‘We were in a complete state of shock.
‘Fear completely took over as we were faced with a severely premature baby, with potentially multiple health issues, while stuck in a country with no support.’
Miss Wilkinson’s condition worsened over the next week until doctors said it was unsafe to prolong labour any further.
She said: ‘ the doctors explained to us there was a high risk our baby might not be developed fully and that a lot of his organs may not yet be fully formed or functioning. this news was devastating.
‘When my water broke the room was quickly filled with doctors, midwives and paediatricians and i began to panic.
‘As soon as he was delivered he went straight into an incubator where the paediatricians started to help him breathe and stabilise him. he’s fighting and doing his best but we feel so helpless.’
Singaporean law means the couple are unable to seek employment and are now spending their savings to cover the high costs of living there.
Miss Wilkinson said: ‘Every day i go into the hospital i get a knot in my stomach waiting to hear the update about lorcan’s progress as he’s still in a critical condition.’
the couple’s goFundMe appeal has so far raised more than £33,000 and Miss Wilkinson said every penny was ‘greatly appreciated’.
‘He’s fighting with all his might’