Ukrainian parents plea for help, bub arrived 12 weeks early in Aust..

A Ukrainian couple who travelled to Australia during a round-the-world cycling trip have been stuck in Sydney after the arrival of their son 12 weeks early.

Volodymyr Muliar and Yaryna Kvitka planned to welcome their first child at the end of June in Argentina after cycling from Europe to Australia, reports The Daily Mail.

But Ms Kvitka went in to premature labour at just 28 weeks welcoming baby boy, Marko.

marko 1

Measuring just 11cm at birth, Marko remains in Sydney’s Royal Hospital for Women under the watch of specialists in the intensive care unit.

His parents, whose travel and health insurance did not extend to cover the cost of such extensive care, have been left with bills of up to $5,000-a-day.

While it will become cheaper, at the end of 10 weeks, the recommended length of his treatment, they will be saddled with a bill of more than $230,000.

‘This is an exciting and emotional event for every parent, yet our first meeting with our son has happened way too early. Our tiny boy will have to spend about 10 weeks at the Newborn Care Centre of The Royal Hospital for Women under close supervision and artificial life support.

‘Unfortunately, it happened so that our insurance does not cover labour and all related costs in Australia.’

‘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.

“We desperately call for your help. Any support will be tremendously appreciated; any amount you could donate will be accepted with deep gratitude.”

The couple have raised over $26,000 so far.

Gofundme.com

What a terrible situation to be put in. We wish them all the best.

Share your comments below.

Image via gofundme

22 Comments

- - mom111362 said
  - 30 May 2016
    12:33 am
my heart goes out to them, I hope they can get the help.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 24 May 2016
    5:17 pm
Hope the little boy improves – he’s lucky to be able to receive the help he needs. I feel for the parents with the expense though.

- - mom134803 said
  - 19 May 2016
    2:54 am
The article says the baby measured 11 cm at birth. Think this must be wrong. Look at the size of her hand compare to the length of the body of the baby…the baby is longer. It should probably be something more like 31 cm.

- - mom134803 said
  - 19 May 2016
    2:41 am
This must be very hard for this couple, hope they can raise the funding and their baby stays stable and grows strong.

- - ella12 said
  - 18 May 2016
    4:53 pm
I wish this new family all the very best.

- - tessie said
  - 18 May 2016
    12:54 pm
I really do feel for them but, knowing she was pregnant, why did they do the cycling trip without making sure they were covered if this occurred. Saying that, I wish them all the best with their new baby.

- - mt05 said
  - 18 May 2016
    11:01 am
totally unexpected
but first thoughts
shouldn’t have been cycling around the world this far into pregnancy

- - rovermum said
  - 18 May 2016
    10:17 am
Ooh, this is such a terrible and tricky situation. Whilst pregnant, travel is often something that is discussed with your Doctor/OB and whilst this was an unlikely scenario, extra precautions should have been taken. Whilst this is not helpful to them now, I wish them well in getting home.

- - soosy said
  - 18 May 2016
    9:01 am
Imagine in America the price would be exorbitant, and other countries would lack our excellent care.
I can’t imagine they can be made to pay if they have no funds, would it prevent them leaving the country. I have heard of tourists who have incurred speeding fines etc and they just leave without paying.

- - mom113991 said
  - 17 May 2016
    11:33 pm
i agree, what were they thinking doing such a thing especially while pregnant. However no1 deserves to go through this. that poor couple and baby boy in another country without family support there for them. It really is terrible. Hoping for a speedy recovery/visit and that they are flying back home in no time 🙂

- - mom101628 said
  - 17 May 2016
    11:12 pm
Cannot understand why they continued their round the world cycling when she knew she was pregnant. Many other countries they would have to travel through wouldn’t have our world class state-of-the-art hospitals to care for such a premature baby. I would have stayed home in her circumstance.

- - mom165081 said
  - 17 May 2016
    9:14 pm
definitely a terrible situation to be in. Hope they manage to sort things out one way or another.

- - mom129294 said
  - 17 May 2016
    8:40 pm
What on earth were they thinking…..lucky for them they are in Australia and not America, otherwise they would be looking at a bill 5 times that amount

- - sharna_booth_weinrowski said
  - 17 May 2016
    8:07 pm
wishing them every hope xx

- - meedee said
  - 17 May 2016
    4:48 pm
Oh goodness….isnt it such a shame that we cant offer care for anyone that happens to be here. I know its complicated and that there is a lot more too it then simply giving medical help.
Hopefully he will get stronger and be able to leave hospital sooner then the Doctors think.

- - mom90758 said
  - 17 May 2016
    4:19 pm
Oh my! I’m very sorry for the situation they are in. But when they decided to go cycling from Europe to Australia and she was already at the end of the second trimester, I expect that they thought of having a better insurance. With a pregnancy you can never be sure. That’s really a lot of money they need to pay. 🙁
- june11 replied
  
  17 May 2016 , 9:50 pm
  Why would your risk such a venture while pregnant? They have probably been on some very rough roads and tracks too. I doubt they will be allowed to leave the country until their bill is paid.
  - mom90758 replied
    
    18 May 2016 , 12:37 pm
    
    I think too. Starting a life in three with such a big debt. I don’t envy them! 🙁
- - mom81879 said
  - 17 May 2016
    12:55 pm
It would be a terrible situation to be in, but why did the pregnant wife insist on travelling anyway? I would be comfortable being pregnant in another country, I just wouldn’t take the risk

- - Tinarh said
  - 17 May 2016
    11:43 am
Ive read stories of this so many times with aussie couples overseas. If any cause is worth donating to, it is a cause like this….taking away some of the stress of parents who are dealing with the unexpected premature birth of their child.

- - mom160421 said
  - 17 May 2016
    11:24 am
If they were cycling around the world and she was pregnant, shouldn’t they have taken out the most comprehensive travel insurance available? Fortunately for them their son is receiving excellent care in Australia.
- mom81879 replied
  
  17 May 2016 , 12:56 pm
  Pretty much my thoughts on it. Although I would have preferred to stay home whilst pregnant, too many risks to be travelling