Monday 22 July 2013

Lily Helen Hewgill

My wife Amy and I were transiting through Shanghai on our way home after holiday in Europe, and she unexpectedly gave birth to a premature baby girl (27 weeks gestation). Mom and baby Lily are doing OK now.
Lily is now in Shanghai Children's Medical Center in Shanghai which is an excellent hospital by Chinese standards. She was born on 19 July 2013 at 17:25. She was 990 grams and 40 cm. She now has an official Chinese birth certificate.
In the Chinese health system, as parents we have high responsibilities but few rights. We cannot visit Lily except by extra special permission on a one-time basis (we have seen her once since birth). However we are responsible for buying and supplying anything she needs beyond what the government supplies.
Our problems are compounded by the fact that we cannot speak, listen, or read. We get documents from the Chinese public health system and cannot understand what we are asked to sign. We do not even get copies. English, where it exists at all, is only very basic and cannot be used to truly understand what is happening to our little girl.
Our current plan is to evacuate her to New Zealand as soon as possible (which could be weeks because she must be stable first). Our travel insurance is helping but will not cover Lily's expenses. We are contacting every resource we can think of to help.
  • NZ, US, Canada embassy/consulates
  • Family and friends
  • Travel insurance
  • Greg's employer
  • Medical evacuation companies (Asia Pacific Jets, International SOS)
  • Our midwife in NZ
  • Bank/mortgage/credit cards
  • Red Cross
We expect the costs to be in excess of $200,000 USD for the flight. Once in NZ, she will be fully covered by the public health system and we can see her and help her develop into a healthy child.
What we need:
  • A place to stay for Amy (preferably on on metro line 4 or 6)
  • A support community of friendly faces in Shanghai
  • Professional interpreting and translating with specialised medical experience
  • Money. This is the hardest thing for us to ask for.
Our NZ bank account is Kiwibank 38-9005-0463830-03 (account name A N & G D HEWGILL). Anything and everything will help save her life.


Contact email is rescue.our.lily@gmail.com



34 comments:

  1. Have you looked here? http://www.keanewzealand.com/china/chapters/kea-shanghai

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Try browsing the members to get a contact

      Delete
  2. Medical interpreters in Shanghai:
    http://www.proz.com/profile/1277774
    or
    http://www.proz.com/interpreter/1013809

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've sent this to Kea New Zealand. A number of people in China actually can't read this because it is blogspot. But hopefully those who can will contact you. Good luck,

    ReplyDelete
  4. Call Shanghai Central Centre - their number is in all taxis - they provide translation free of charge.
    I am back in Shanghai in August but our house is free if you need (end of Line 2)
    Email me - mansfieldtania@yahoo.co.nz
    NZ consulate and NZ Kea should be helping you. Although being summer alot of people are away.
    If you need Help translating I can put you in touch with some friends....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Setting up an account with Givealittle.co.nz will enable people to donate money more easily, as well as publicise your situation. Seven Sharp, Campbell Live etc often share stories such as yours which may help.
    Our thoughts and love are with you x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A givealittle page has been set up by one of Amy's Uni friends. It is https://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/GetLilyHome

      Delete
  6. ive just mesg my friend whoives in shanghai to put the feelers out for you. its a small world, help will come. xxx love to little lily x

    ReplyDelete
  7. My thoughts are with you all. I had a prem baby in nz at 28 weeks and that was so stressful even with the best health care and supportive doctors and nurses. My heart goes out to you all and a contribution has been made.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Create a facebook page to get the word out more and yes a Givealittle.co.nz account too good luck, god bless x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Amy & Greg, I hope you're getting more help now and things are beginning to move along for you to get little Lily back home. I saw your story on Stuff.co.nz and I am sure other news agencies will pick it up now and get you some more coverage over here. In the meantime our family has made a donation into your account in the hope that every little bit helps. Good luck, we're thinking of you all.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Saw this on Stuff, we also have a prem baby and that's hard enough as it is, I couldn't imagine what you are going through.

    We don't normally give money, mainly because we're on such a tight budget ourselves. I had an extra $10, I know its not much, but I wanted to give something :)

    She's beautiful! x

    ReplyDelete
  11. I know its not a lot, but I just wanted to donate what I could to show support for you and your family from me and my family.
    All the very best, looks like there are some wonderful people already willing and ready to help you out. Hope you get home soon xoxo. Peaua family.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Woah what a situtation to be in, have made a small donation for ya.

    Has your travel insurance not given you even a cent?? If not, name and shame em!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey guys am with you on this. But how the hang is it possible to cost $200, 000???.. Where is N Z Government in this? John Key in route to Korea foday. Somebody callhis office. Somebody step up and fix this for these people. Am on disability pension. But even I can see wswat needs sorting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why don't you call his office?

      Delete
    2. Having had a prem child (born at 29 weeks & 5 days), I think about $200-250k would be right for the amount required to bring the baby back to NZ (unless the government can intervene with some assistance). Basically the baby will have to travel with 1-2 nurses, possibly a doctor, definitely a ventilator (and the oxygen bottles required for that for the duration of the flight); the humidicrib (incubator) and monitoring equipment also needs to come on-board, and then all of that has to be able to go in a plane, and with that gear it cannot be a commercial flight - it has to be a private plane, and internationally those things are not cheap to hire... Seriously, $200k is not unreasonable...

      Delete
    3. You are so right! It will be extremely expensive as all those requirements are needed to get Lily back home. We flew RFDS to get home and knowing there running costs it wouldn't have been cheap.

      Delete
  14. Sincerely wish I could donate more to help - you have my full empathy. I haven't been through what you're going through, but I really feel for you as I remember being terrified that something like this would happen to me when I travelled from Europe to NZ when I was 18 weeks pregnant. Thankfully I (and my son) were fine.
    I assume the travel insurance won't cover the baby because Amy was (of course) already pregnant when the the policy was taken out?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi there, so sorry to hear about this. Try calling Aaron who is a smart Kiwi who lives in ShangHai for the last 10 years or so. Actually i dont have a number but I have his email aaronmarsich@yahoo.co.nz or aaron.marsich1 on skype. Smart guy who knows his way around ShangHai for sure.
    Glenn

    ReplyDelete
  16. What about any contacts at NZ Central in Shanghai? http://www.nzte.govt.nz/en/export/export-markets/greater-china/china/new-zealand-central/

    ReplyDelete
  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have put some feelers out for you with some friends who might have some contacts in Shanghai who can help you understand the hospitals documents and hopefully get you in to see Lily more often. I've also posted on the Neonatal Trust's Facebook page making a similar suggestion, and have made a donation to your account. I'm glad you got to see and touch your wonderful daughter. Keep the NZ media up-to-date with your progress.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have put your blog on the Campbell Live Facebook page. All the very best.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Get hold of an immigration agent who knows how the chinese system works.....I know of one in Brisbane if thats any help....let me know if you do and I will send you his email and phone number. Also your local Minister of Immigration MUST help you, thats the law...thats what he's for. Email me if you want this info... Cheekyface9@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Just saw this on TVone News - I have asked National if they could please send the airforce to bring Lily home https://www.facebook.com/NZNATS?fref=ts&filter=2 and I have also suggested on the Air New Zealand fb page that it would make for great PR https://www.facebook.com/AirNewZealand

    All the very best and I hope to see on the news your lovely family back in the country soon.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm a fellow mom living in Shanghai, an American expat, and my heart goes out to you both. What a scary situation. I've contacted my Chinese doctor friend who speaks excellent English and informed her of your situation and contact info so perhaps she can help with translation and cultural understanding. She's interested in practicing medical English so I hope she will be of help. Does your wife have a smart phone? She can make copies of the documents using her camera for later translation. For moral support for your wife and perhaps more resources I suggest she join shanghaimamas.org. That's how I heard of your story and there's a thread of fellow mamas trying to figure out how we can help.

    ReplyDelete
  23. We will donate. Not a lot but that is not the point. If we all chip in even from the coffee fund we know will help. Take care and please be strong at such a horrific time. The Guppy family x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Greg. Wow this sure is a situation! Watched TV news last night in horror. But I'm glad to see there are some improvements in the situation. And glad to see this morning when I got to work that your employer has said "Please be assured that we are doing whatever we can to assist Greg, Amy and little Lily".
    Meanwhile, I will donate what I can (luckily the kiwi $ is fairly strong at the moment - every little bit helps!
    Kia kaha, Noel

    ReplyDelete
  25. Have you contacted these groups? http://www.awcshanghai.org/
    http://www.internations.org/china-expats local expat groups to help with support and advice

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sorry I couldn't donate much but every little bit helps. Hope you are both able to bring your daughter home safe & sound. Good luck & KIA KAHA!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Have donated as much as I can manage at the moment, hope it helps a little.

    ReplyDelete
  28. it was hard having our twins at 25 wks at home, so being overseas and not being able to understand what is happening would be dreadful. I have given a little, I hope it helps and you are all home soon.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi I just went to give a little and made my modest donation. I hope all our little contributions add up to enough to get your lilly home good luck! all the best. Rebecca Thornton

    ReplyDelete