The mother of an Australian baby stranded in Bali with a bacterial infection before she was flown back home for specialist treatment has choked back tears as she thanked the public for helping her family during their darkest days.
Baby Lucky captured the hearts of the world last month when her mother, Honey Ahimsa, launched a desperate bid to get her then-seven-week-old daughter back to Australia for lifesaving treatment unavailable in Indonesia. Lucky was diagnosed with sepsis, severe pneumonia, lung failure and RSV-bronchiolitis after being rushed to a Bali hospital on February 8.
Lucky’s mother, Honey, grew up in Melbourne but had recently relocated to Indonesia with her young family. She was medically evacuated to Brisbane five days later, on February 13, with a 50 per cent chance of survival, with her family racking up more than $100,000 in bills to keep her alive.
The medical retrieval flight to Brisbane from Bali cost $106,000, while the family spent between $5,000 to $8,000 daily on the baby’s medical care in Bali.
Lucky’s story made international headlines as people from around the globe donated money and sent the family well wishes as they fought to get her home.
An online fundraiser for the cause raised over $190,000 within a few days of being launched. Lucky was finally discharged from the hospital Sunday and made her live television debut in the arms of her relieved mum this morning on Sunrise.
‘There are just no words, just complete gratitude and disbelief,’ Ms Ahisma told Sunrise from the Gold Coast. She admitted the last month had taken on heavy toll on her and her partner Pan, not knowing whether their precious baby would survive. Ms Ahimsa got emotional while looking back on the harrowing ordeal.
Little Lucky is doing well following her desperate fight for life. ‘She just wants to be in my arms,’ Ms Ahimsa said. ‘If I put them down just for a moment, she freaks out, so she feels a little bit traumatised from the whole ordeal.’ ‘She wants to know that she is loved and held and safe now, more than anything.
Ms Ahimsa said the money raised saved her baby’s life and choked back tears again as she thanked Australia for their overwhelming support. ‘Thank you so much from the depths of our hearts. You saved our daughter’s life. I don’t think a thank you would ever really be enough. You saved this beautiful little girl; she is here because of you.’
It comes after Ms Ahimsa gave a heartwarming update about her daughter’s condition on Sunday. ‘Best news — Lucky Love is home,’ she posted. ‘Lucky has been discharged from the hospital.
Though doctors have said that she is well enough to continue her recovery at home, she is not fully recovered. It’s also more dangerous for her to stay in the hospital as the chances of her getting another infection are high in that environment.
‘We are overwhelmed by how blessed we have been to have our baby girl survive when the odds were against her. ‘She is a true miracle baby, and a pillar of love (and) hope for everyone to witness.’
»Baby Lucky’s mother thanks the public for helping her family during their darkest days«
↯↯↯Read More On The Topic On TDPel Media ↯↯↯