Well-wishers raise $37,000 to fly American baby home after he was born three months early during parents' 'babymoon' in Cancun and 'held hostage' over medical bills

Well-wishers raise $37,000 to fly American baby home after he was born three months early during parents' 'babymoon' in Cancun and 'held hostage' over medical bills



An American baby born three months premature during his parents' 'babymoon' in Mexico has arrived back in the states after being 'held hostage'.

Larry Ralph and Michaela Smith, who were due October 15, flew from Indiana to Cancun last weekend for a short getaway.

On Tuesday July 18, Michaela started to feel sick, and they went to the emergency room to make sure she and the baby were safe.

A quick check-up revealed she was 5cm dilated, and progressed to 8cm within minutes, before her water had broken.

The medical team induced labor and their son Beckham Lake was born weighing just 2lbs, stable but in need of urgent care.

However, when the family tried to make arrangements to bring him home a day later, they claim the hospital produced an unexpected bill for $7,000 - which kept on rising. When the hospital finished adding to the tab, it came to $37,000.

The family claimed the bill was a form of 'hostage'.

Unable to pay the bill, they called their family in Indianapolis, Indiana, who created a GoFundMe aiming to raise $60,000 for the bill, any risk of further bills, and travel.

It garnered the attention of thousands of people, including Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, R-Ind.



By Thursday, the page had raised just shy of $40,000, and they had enough to get a medical plane to fly from Florida to pick up Michaela and Beckham, with Larry following on a commercial flight.

However, as they arrived in Pensacola, Florida, it became clear that Michaela's insurance was not eligible outside of Indiana, and arrangements were made for another flight to take them to their home state.

Last night, their friend Rebecca posted a message on the GoFundMe page to say that the family had arrived at Riley Hospital for Children, part of Indiana University Health.





'They are in INDIANA!!! We wanted to update all of our family, friends and supporters! Thank you Thank you Thank You from the bottom of our hearts! Beckham is getting the proper medical care that he deserves! He is doing well, mom & dad are doing well,' the post read.

The family has not published the bill, and the break-down of the $37,000 amount is not clear.

In the US, the hospital delivery costs $3,500, as well as an additional $5,000 of costs for pre-natal delivery and post-natal care.

That brings the average total cost to around $8,500 for an uncomplicated birth, though that figure can easily reach up to $12,000.

Most cesarean births, without complications, cost around $12,000.

These costs can vary, and some families have reported wild escalations from that figure.