Baby arrives in Melbourne from Vietnam for lifesaving heart surgery
A six-month-old baby born in Vietnam to an Australian father and Vietnamese mother, has arrived in Melbourne for life-saving heart surgery, after a crowdsourcing campaign raised almost $97,000 to fly her over.
Baby Caroline was born in January with a chromosomal defect, which caused seizures and other breathing difficulties.
The infant was diagnosed with DiGeorge syndrome and has a number of urgent issues, including a hole in her heart.
Following the 12-hour medivac flight which touched down on Monday, her father Tim Maclatchy has told how he and partner Tram Doan were both “excited and scared” to prepare for their baby’s surgery.
Mr Maclatchy obtained an Australian passport and Medicare number for Caroline, in order to bring her to Melbourne for the surgery.
Now in the care of the Royal Children’s Hospital, baby Caroline will be assessed with MIR scans and an electroencephalogram to look closer at her brain, while her parents stay at the Ronald McDonald house nearby.
“Just wanted to say as one of the pilots, it was a pleasure to be able to help in this special mission. I wish you all the best!” one of the messages on the fundraising page read on Monday.
Heroic young boy delivers baby brother, saves mother's life after she goes into labour early
Teen stabbed classmate over fears Slender Man 'would kill her' if she didn't
In just one month, the GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $96,700 of its $140,000 goal to fly Caroline to Australia for the surgery.
The couple don’t have insurance to cover the procedure, so they have thanked those who have already donated to bring her to Australia.
“We are amazed at how generous people have been,” Mr Maclatchy said on the fundraising page.
“Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Global Retrieval Team have quoted us $130,000 AUD to transport Caroline while she is still on the ventilator,” the English teacher wrote on the page earlier this month.
“GoFundMe will take about $10,000 in fees so we're now aiming to raise $140,000 AUD.”
The campaign is still about $43,000 short of its target. To donate visit GoFundMe campaign.
