Couple raising $200,000 to pay for premature son's hospital fees
A couple from the Ukraine whose son was born prematurely at 28 weeks in Sydney while they were on holiday are appealing for help to raise the $200,000 needed for his medical fees.
Travelling musicians Volodymyr Muliar and Yaryna Kvitka, who are 38 and 30, had planned on having their firstborn child in Argentina, when the married couple fell pregnant in the middle of their trip.
The adventurers set out from the Ukraine in October 2014 with the aim of promoting Ukrainian culture, folk music and songs while on their travels.
Their first cycling trip 'Two-wheeled Chronicles' took place in 2010 and the latest – their sixth one – began in Kyiv, and they crossed the finish line in Sydney on February 20th, 2016 after cycling 25,000km through 13 countries.
The couple planned to fly to Argentina for the second leg of their trip, and travel through the Americas and Europe back to Ukraine.
All travel arrangements had been made and then on April 8th when Yaryna was in the 28th week of pregnancy she gave birth to baby Marko by caesarean section.
"I was very sad because I wanted natural a birth, but we are happy he is healthy," the first-time mum told Yahoo7.
The couple were not covered for the birth of Marko and related costs in their travel insurance and because he was so early he has to stay at the Newborn Care Centre of The Royal Hospital for Women for 10 weeks.
"Due to the course of events we are not able to cover the costs on our own.
"Every day at intensive care for Marko costs AUD 5,158.00 (later will be a little bit less), but the fee for the whole hospital stay will be around AUD230,000.00 which is absolutely unreachable for us," the couple revealed on their GoFundMe page.
The couple are also unable to work due to their visa restrictions but are in negotiations with the government to get their status changed so they can work to help pay off the fees.,
Doctors have told the family little Marko will need to stay in Australia until December.
The family, who are staying with friends in Summer Hill, told Yahoo7 they have been overwhelmed with the generosity of their friends and strangers.
"We wish we could just swipe a card and pay for all the medical services our tiny son requires so badly but there is no chance in the world we could possibly do it on our own," they added.
Just 10 days ago Marko was able to experience the smell of his mother for the first time.
It was the first time he had a skin-to-skin contact and the couple said he 'seemed to like it very much'.
Vanessa Madunick, General Manager, The Royal Hospital for Women told Yahoo7 that little Marko requires complex specialist care until he reaches full-term.
"The baby’s parents are residents of the Ukraine and are not covered by Medicare or their applicable overseas insurance.
"The hospital is working with the family to consider appropriate arrangements toward payment for the highly complex care their son is receiving.
"The full cost of the stay is unknown at this stage due to the level of care and length of stay being uncertain," the spokesman added.
Around $20,000 has been raised thus far on the family's GoFundMe page, if you would like to donate click here.
