March 12, 2019 1.27 pm This story is over 60 months old

Lincoln mum stuck abroad after £140k hospital birth bill

Unexpected pregnancy and premature birth
Chloe Wilkinson and Patraic Walsh-Kavanagh. Photo: GoFundMe page

A Lincoln mum is faced with a £140,000 hospital bill after she gave birth to a premature baby while out in Asia with her partner.

Chloe Wilkinson, 30, and Patraic Walsh-Kavanagh, 27, spent the last year living around Asia and Australia.

During their trip they found out they were expecting a baby. On their way home from Australia the couple had what was meant to be a short stopover in Singapore.

Whilst in Singapore, Chloe was diagnosed with an infection. It is believed she suffered bleeding and cramps before she was rushed to hospital.

Chloe gave birth to Lorcan Fionnbharr, who was born 14 weeks early on February 26 and reportedly weighed just 1.9lbs.

Baby Lorcan pictured at 7 Days old. Photo: Family

Chloe has since been discharged but the couple must stay in Singapore until Lorcan is strong enough to join them outside the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). The name Lorcan is of Irish origin and means fierce little one.

It is understood Chloe had travel insurance but it did not cover the unexpected birth. Lorcan won’t be fit enough to travel home for three months.

The stress doesn’t end there, as the couple were faced with a hospital bill of around £140,000.

Patraic’s sister set up a GoFundMe page initially to raise funds for a medical flight to bring the couple home. However, this was deemed too dangerous so Chloe stayed in hospital where she gave birth.

The page has so far raised £38,946 towards the bill and trying to bring the couple home. You can donate here.

On the page, Patraic’s sister Aoife-Lourdes Valentino said: “It’s definitely not the start to parenthood Padz and Chloe envisioned, but we can make it so much easier and less frightening.”