A Thai surrogate mother has broken down in tears while speaking about how the baby she was paid to carry was abandoned by an Australian couple who refused to take him home once they found out he had Down syndrome.
Pattharamon Janbua has told of her pain for the child, saying she loved the baby boy, now six months old, like he was her own.
There are now fears baby Gammy may not survive after he taken to hospital on Friday when he contracted a lung infection as it emerged his mother had received more than $50,000 in donations from all over the world to care for the boy.
The 21-year-old mother - who lives 90km south of Bangkok - had been paid a total of about $16,000 by the couple to give birth to the baby but when she gave birth to twins - a boy and a girl - they only took the girl back to Australia.
Ms Janbua - who already had two other children aged three and six - told the ABC she felt sorry for baby Gammy.
'This was the adults’ fault. And who is he to endure something like this even though it’s not his fault?' she said.
'Why does he have to be abandoned and the other baby has it easy?
'I chose to have him, not to hurt him.'
Ms Janbua said she treated the six-month-old like he was one of her own children.'I love him, he was in my tummy for nine months, it’s like my child,' she told the ABC.Never think that you’re not my child, that I don’t care for you.'
An online campaign set up for Gammy has raised more than $50,000 after his heartbreaking story was shared.
Baby boy Gammy has a congenital heart condition and is critically unwell.
The couple, who have remained anonymous, reportedly told Ms Janbua to have an abortion when they found out four-months into the pregnancy that one of the babies had Down syndrome.
'I would like to tell Thai women – don't get into this business as a surrogate. Don't just think only for money ... if something goes wrong no one will help us and the baby will be abandoned from society, then we have to take responsibility for that,' Ms Janbua said, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
The couple paid an extra $1673 when they first realised - three-months into the pregnancy - that Ms Janbua was having twins for them.
Ms Janbua is a Buddhist and thinks abortion is a 'sin'.
She originally agreed to become a surrogate mother because of her family's financial problems and the arrangement was set-up through an agency.
The Australian man and his ethnic-Asian wife could not conceive a baby themselves.
Ms Jambua, from a village in Chon Buri province in southern Thailand, gave birth to Gammy and his twin sister in Bangok hospital.
'Because of the poverty and debts, the money that was offered was a lot for me,'
In my mind, with that money, we could educate my children and we can repay our debt.'she told the ABC.
However, when the babies were born the agent took the girl away and delivered her to the Australian couple who Ms Jambua has never met.
She never received the remaining $2341 that she was owed by the agent and is now struggling to keep her baby alive.
Gammy's tragic story has caused outrage on Twitter.
*Wow,this surrogacy thing is too emotional...My own question is why is money so important that some people would get paid and let someone carry away a baby they carried for 9months knowing they would never see that child again?
This is so touching, I pray God heals baby Gammy
ReplyDeleteYour comment will be visible after approval
Sad much
DeleteStella, no Saturday laffs ni?????????
ReplyDeleteAwwwww
ReplyDeleteThere r two types of surrogacy:traditional n gestinational.wit d traditional,which is d popular one ,d baby is unrelated to d surrogate genetically. U are just a carrier.buh dat being said,someone like me will never do it.carrier or no genetical attachment,it's my baby.ho-ha.
ReplyDeleteSorry for ds woman.dat Australian couple no try at all,at all.abandoning deir own flesh n blood.
Traditional surrogacy is where they use the surrogate's egg. Gestational is where there is no dna contribution from the surrogate she's just a carrier
Deletea.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
ReplyDelete.
A contract is a contract so stella this ur question no make sense i swear but may God heal the little angel though.....
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
She gave her reasons, she had debt to Settle and needed money, it's not like she went into Prostitution or Killed someone, she just served as an "Oven" for the couple, the Child is not hers Biologically, I see nothing wrong with Surrogacy, it's a win Win situation for both Parties as long as the Surrogate Mum learns not to get emotionally attached to the "Bun".
ReplyDeleteI pray baby GaMmy survives, the Biological Parents are wicked, let's hope the other twin doesn't come down with something in the nearest future, they would abandon her without blinking.
really heartless of the couple.
ReplyDeleteguess they didn't want to buy trouble with their money but at least show some love. have a heart.
phew!
I pray God heals baby Gammy.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking story honestly.
ReplyDeleteEyaaa. May God heal baby Gammy. So sad
ReplyDeleteWell @ Stellastica, once money is involved...
ReplyDelete*lips sealed and watching*
So sad, there is no sickness God cannot cure.
ReplyDeleteThis is soo sad. Why will the couple choose one and abandon the other? Making shakara over pikin matter again.hian!
ReplyDeleteIn other news,I just found out that am pregnant!I am so excited. Can't wait to see the look on hubby's face when I tell this evening.
August!my sweet August!Thank you Jesus!!!
Wow!!! Congrats. You shall carry your baby to Term in Jesus name
DeleteWow am happy for u...Congrats!
DeleteP-flav.....congratulations.....
DeleteCongrats dearie, welcome to d club. Am currently 2month pregnant Wt my second baby! May God see us through amen
Deletecongratulations.
DeleteCongratulations dear! He is a faithful God!
DeleteCongrats! Pray for successful pregnancy and delivery for u
DeleteCongrats dear
DeleteCongratss safe nine months.
DeleteNow one understands why GOD doesn't give some children. Wicked souls.
ReplyDeletePoverty poverty, I still don't understand how you can carry a baby 40 weeks inside you without being emotionally attached to him/her, Dna or no Dna. I don't like this surrogacy business because some people get hurt doing it and things don't normally go as planned. In this case, I blame both parties involved. Taking care of a child with down syndrome can be challenging.
ReplyDeleteit is easier for the real parents to take care of the child than leaving the child with the single mother of 2. Atleast in australia they have good medical facilities and schools to cater for such. they also have support groups who help families with down syndrome. the parents are just wicked and selfish.
DeleteSad story.
ReplyDeleteReally sad. Carry pikin finish come take am dash person???..God forbid.
ReplyDeleteEeyaaa....I pity d baby nd d woman!! So surrogacy still dey exist? Una wey neverborn go come dey disturb us 4 here,biko go nd do dis nawww b4 time go oh..cos notin like pikin abeg..............................UGBUAKU
ReplyDeleteMay God forgive you amd your bad mouth. 'disturb' you call it? Wow! #jabajantisboo.
DeleteBaby Gammy is a destiny's child...He will survive it all!
ReplyDeleteA destiny child. Thank me later #jabahantisboo
DeleteBut the woman was told to abort the pregnancy,wen it was discovered that there wud complications now. If she had done that,this matter wouldn't av come up. GOD provide my needs,so i don't go begging oh. Renegade says so.
ReplyDeletethe parents no try. the baby will live long and put the anonymous parent to shame.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, this is not an easy one. Four months into the pregnancy it was discovered that one of the babies had Down Syndrome, and the surrogate mum was asked to terminate the pregnancy by the Australian couple/doctor....I understand that this is normal practice in the event of an unhealthy fetus - Doctors in the house please help out here..... The surrogate mum however decided to keep the baby - how then will the Australian couple take responsibility???
ReplyDeleteThe baby is not hers even if she is emotionally attached, still not biologically hers cuz she is just a carrier.
ReplyDeleteShe is being paid for the discomfort and stress of 9 months , it is a simple contract so she cannot renege after birthing the child, it is what it is.
Gammy will surely survive
ReplyDeleteThis SDK, sometimes your comment surprises me and makes me think you are really a bush isoko woman. So you don't understand that the child in question is not biologically the woman's own. She carried the pregnancy for the couple because the lady is unable to do so herself probably bcos of miscarriages or other reasons. Sometimes the egg fertilised in surrogacy could be the carrier's but in this case it is not so please understand some of your posts properly before you comment stupidly please. Local aproko isoko woma .
ReplyDeleteGod please heal baby gammy and shame those useless australian couple. EVE E UME
ReplyDeleteGod please heal baby gammy and shame those useless australian couple. EVE E UME
ReplyDeleteIt not always about money Stella, some people have medical condition and they can't carry their own baby.
ReplyDeleteI REFER TO THE SURROGATE MOTHER..I DONT CARE WHO HAS THE SPERM AND HOW IT GOT IN HER WOMB...AS LONG AS YOU CARRY THAT CHILD FOR 9MONTHS THERE IS A BOND THAT CANNOT BE BROKEN IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO,WHAT,WHY,WHEN.....
ReplyDeletei MEANT HOW CAN SURROGATE MOTHERS LET THE BABIES THEY CARRY BE TAKEN AWAY SO EASILY,I MEANT IT MUST BE AN EMOTIONAL TIN FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FORMED A BOND BUT MUST LET THE BABY GO.
THOSE OF YOU CUSSING ME OUT.....NA UNA SABI OH.
Don't mind them! I honestly can't detach myself from that baby; how can?! After all d kicks, turns and bonding for 9 month4? Naaaaa. It's beyond eggs, sperm and blood jare.
DeleteAmen o!thanks everyone.
ReplyDeleteHubby was soo surprised he nearly choked on his food! Hahaha. Couldn't wait till he finished eating. Lol.
Congrats to you both?
DeleteIs it your first?
Sad story...
ReplyDeleteWhite people, always working wid four mouths, can't ever believe shit they say.
ReplyDeleteHahaha I sha like when stella replies..but me too go follow join, its not her baby, and she is helping out and being paid for it..someone emotional shouldn't go into the biz
ReplyDeleteStella surrogacy is the only option for some couple who are not able to have babies on their own.
ReplyDeleteIt is not in our place to judge women who are willing to carry the babies to term for a fee or not.
So the surrogate births the baby and keeps the child? What about the couple that conceived the child but needed help to carry to term?
Keep thanking God you are never faced with situations that you have absolutely no control over.
The Austrailian couple who contracted this poor lady ought to have used someone whose belief is in tandem with theirs.
Nuvi Honey very well spoken in a matured way. I see nothing wrong in surrogacy especially the type where the woman is just the carrier. There must always be emotions because she carried the child for 9months but if you know what you want, then life goes on. I once saw an indian documentary on this surrogacy thing and a region where it is pratised there. That documentry was truly heartbreaking but i think in that country they have more laws unlike this womans case.
ReplyDeletewomen need to have an agreement for such things and know their right. If the Australians say i dont want a baby with downs syndrom and ''i cant be responsible'' and you choose to go ahead for religious or any other reason, then you must bear the burden. Sadly it is the risk associated with this kind of thing.
May God help us all
Stella have you seen poverty when nor get part 2? You may never be able to do this (me too) but some people are very very poor. That documentry i watched, the poor villages were happy to do it over and over again as long as they were certified healthy. Their husbands gave their blessing too. These women were the bread winners in their family and they used the money to build houses and send their children to school. Most were all attached, and one of them even acted as a wet nurse for an elderly couple but at the end of the day, its all business cos they sign contract. Dont forget the one happening at our backyard here in Nigeria. The teenage girls they always release in large numbers from the so called NGO's.
ReplyDeleteMy heart bleeds when I read dis kind of news, wats wrong wit a baby having a condition? U show him or her great love, believe dats all dat baby needs
ReplyDelete