to think you don't go on holiday whilst having a high risk pregnancy and without adequate insurance

[Defenderwife]

Woman gives birth after food poisoning whilst on holiday in the Dominic Republic.

She had a cervical cerclage so knew she had a high risk pregnancy.

Her insurance didn't cover her entire pregnancy.

They are now stranded with a premature baby in a foreign country with no financial help and are relying on donations and GoFundMe.

I have made a donation but inside I feel almost angry. Why on earth have they let themselves be in this situation? That poor poor child.

The ron

The Ronald McDonald charity confirmed that dax's parents made a donation

Nope, it could be a DR hospital issue and not the insurance company at all.

Insurance companies just usually confirm coverage and state the bill will be paid - it sounds like the DR hospital could be at fault, demanding money.

All that matters is that couple give the money back now that they know insurance is covering everything

Which they won't.

definite - I think they gifted 2k to the Ronald McDonald fund. Out of over 100 I think?

OK, I have just looked at the statement the mum put out.

She has said:

"Have had some progress with the insurance company, nothing yet in writing so before I can give all Evie's amazing supporters an update I need to see it in black and white."

This was accompanied by

"Message from Evie's mummy.....she has said that the donations raised so far, and that continue to come in will be halfed between the hospital Evie is in now and a baby unit in England"

It's understandable IMO that after she's been messed about by the insurance company to the point her DD has been denied the proper medical care and had her life put at risk she needs to see it to believe it.

Also if she is as good as her word, that's a great use for the money. I'm sure the hospital she's currently in (the one with terrible conditions) would benefit massively from a donation.

JeffsanArsehole so when they do donate the fund to charity are you going to apologise for the awful things you've said about the couple?

I didn't see that on the Go fund me page ....it read as if the donations are still for the treatment.

The amount donated was never confirmed.
Do you have a link stating they received over 100k? Anything I've found states they received 12k

Er, the Insurance company have said they had no part in the transfer between clinics and this wasn't something they arranged or requested. They also said at no time was it inferred that cover wouldn't engage. So yeah, I think it's out of order to not fully explore that avenue and know where you stand before asking people, who often don't have a whole pile to give, to put their hands in their pockets. And then, when you do know what the position is, not stop taking more donations OR change the premise on the GFM page to, "Donations to be split between DR and UK Maternity facilities". If you have the wifi to set it up in the first place you can edit it or take it down, or phone someone and ask them to do it for you.

Dax's parents promised several times on their FB page to put up a photo of what was donated but they never did so they could of donated as little as possible. No-one will know but judging by their behaviour I would imo assume the donation not to be anywhere near substantial let alone the whole amount. The fact they didn't say they donated it all to RMH says it all really, why would they need to keep any of it as their insurers paid out.

So its all well and good saying you will donate but to be honest unless something is put showing the amount donated I will remain dubious as to whether it all goes to charity.

sleepyelectricsheep. I don't think people are outraged about the GFM page being set up but it's a bit worrying that it hasn't been updated to reflect the fact that they no longer need any donations. I've read some of the comments by people who have donated and they still believe they are paying for the medical fees. That's just wrong.

The Facebook page is run by someone in the UK (who presumably doesn't have a problem with wifi) but it is still displaying links to the GFM page and there is no mention that there is now no need for people to make donations.

I can understand that the parents have much more important things on their minds and that they must be overwhelmed trying to deal with things in the DR but I think the relatives dealing with the Facebook page could update it.

However, they have already posted that they will be giving the money to charity so maybe they don't feel any further clarification is necessary.

"the Insurance company have said they had no part in the transfer between clinics and this wasn't something they arranged or requested."

No one is saying they arranged or requested it. The mum was moved to a second hospital for medical reasons (as she was told she needed to go there for a C-Section) and then the baby was mobed to the sub-standard hospital when they had no more money to give the hospital so they withdrew treatment. No one is saying the insurance agency arranged for them to go there, it is an odd statement fro them to make, don't you think? Sounds like something written by the PR team to me.

"They also said at no time was it inferred that cover wouldn't engage."

I would say the money not appearing, and the baby being transferred to a sub-standard hospital where her life was at risk was a pretty strong inference that they were not paying, wouldn't you? The baby was still there earlier today by the way as no money had yet been paid by the insurance.

This is appalling behaviour on the behalf of the insurance company IMO. If the baby was covered why on earth is she not getting the care she is entitled to? Why is she still in a dangerous environment instead?

" I don't think people are outraged about the GFM page being set up"
Really?

There has been plenty of outrage for loads of spurious reasons ever since the GFM page was set up.

Sleepy. It's MN there are always lots of posters being outraged.

Don't you agree that it is what is happening now that matters? Don't you think that it's regrettable that the GFM page hasn't been updated since this morning and that the Facebook page is still asking people to donate?

"It's MN there are always lots of posters being outraged."

I know. The level of bile on this thread has just got to me, people seem to want to start a witch hunt. I think I'll stop looking at it for a while at least ...

"Don't you agree that it is what is happening now that matters? Don't you think that it's regrettable that the GFM page hasn't been updated since this morning and that the Facebook page is still asking people to donate?"

Yes, it would be better if they put a statement on the GFM page - however they are in the middle of an awful situation so I'm going to cut them some slack. I think their suggestion of donating the money and splitting it between two hospitals, one there and one in the UK is a great idea.

The Facebook page has been updated, that's where I read the statement from the mum.

Here are some recent comments from the GFM page:

"Please please bare with sharon and dan....they are the only ones who can put a statement up...with the care of Evie and being in a country that little Internet connection is available they are struggling to get online....They WILL be releasing a statement asap...the story was NOT a lie, NO ONE was conned!!! ...i dont mean to be rude but they could have kept that money and stuck two fingers up at everyone.....but they are descent people who will be giving back to a hospital in Dominican Republic that will really do with that money, as will the baby unit they choose in England....protentally your donations could save more then one prem babies life here.....we cant as a family thank you all enough...and please remember a tiny baby girls life is all that matters right now"

Also

"That family is going through hell have some respect"

My sentiments exactly.

Thank god they were covered. Now they can cancel the Go Fund Me Page and cancel/return any transactions.

Sleepy. I haven't read all this thread but i can just imagine some of the posts. . I remember some of the awful personal attacks on Dax's parents.

However, I still think this type of fund raising requires some thought by those involved. I know Evie's parents are otherwise engaged but although, as you have mentioned, the Mums statement is on the Facebook page they are still inviting donations and linking to the out of date GFM page even now. I think it's a big mistake and is very unfair on those contributing. Dont you agree?

They could easily give their account details to one of the many involved family members to update the go fund me page. I get they aren't. But they are taking money on false pretences. A lot from people who don't have a fiver to donate to the clinic.

I'm uncomfortable about the public hospital being called a "hell hole" without acknowledging that the parents have some responsibility for this situation. They went abroad with a high risk pregnancy to a country where a hospital is a "hell hole".

multivac I've reported your post as its a personal attack and they're not allowed on Mumsnet.

It will be interesting to see if they refund the money because it hasn't happened before.