Surely we can help them out??
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Forum Name: General Chat
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Topic: Surely we can help them out??
Posted By: rachndean
Subject: Surely we can help them out??
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 1:59pm
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Just saw this in the herald, hadnt heard anything about it until now.
I have just donated to them to hopefully get them home, surely the government can help them out somehow??? It is very sad  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10601808 - Link ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
DD Savannah 18.01.04 DS Austin 04.09.08 |
Replies:
Posted By: Febgirl
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 2:46pm
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I saw that too, how stressful for the parents! I'm sure that they will get the help they need to fly back.
Still, part of me thinks who goes on an overseas holiday at 35/36 weeks pregnant without taking out travel insurance - it doesn't cost much.  ------------- Two little girls under 2! 
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 3:57pm
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i agree febgirl, who doesnt take medical insurance out when going overseas esp while so pregnant! i feel sorry for the baby but the parents stupidity makes me go grr! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 4:05pm
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yea saw this earlier. sucks aye. im sure with all the promo the will get help. i know if we werent absolutely skint we'd help. i do agree though, thats a really dumb time to go away without life insurance but i do feel sorry for them none the less ------------- 
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 4:06pm
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Medical insurance won't cover you at that stage of pregnancy (and commercial airlines won't usually take you either). Very sad but they took the risk - I'm not wanting to sound harsh, but I'm with bizzy. (I can't be too harsh cos there's a wee baby involved and it's not his fault his parents took the risk). ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 4:19pm
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Totally agree with that. But I am also very silly and don't usually take out travel insurance when I go over to mum and dads. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Bizzy wrote:Posted By: tropics
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 4:21pm
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Very sad, I hope the little baby gets that flight back to NZ to get the help it needs, but I agree a little bit silly travelling that late on in pregnancy for a tropical holiday to a third world country and totally crazy travelling without travel insurance!
But I do feel for them and hope they can raise the funds quickly to make sure that the lil bubs has a hope in life ------------- http://lilypie.com">    [/url]
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Posted By: my4beauties
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 8:26pm
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What I don't get, is how can the hospital not be equiped to look after a month prem baby? Does that mean any baby born a month prem doesn't have a hope of survival in Samoa? ------------- My babies: R (9),G (7), J (5) http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 8:59pm
Yeah I'd be pretty surprised if insurance would cover. And recalling back to my airline days I'm sure we didn't recommend overseas travel from 36 weeks on. Even earlier for multiple pregnancy. I hope he does get the care he needs. Poor wee bubba. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: hannibal
Date Posted: 07 October 2009 at 9:56pm
| Eeeee a big risk they took, hope that the poor bubs gets the help he needs really soon. |
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 6:52am
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It looks like the govt's going to cover the cost. I'm very pleased for the wee baby's sake. At the same time... travelling that far pg... that was a bit of a risk! -------------   
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Posted By: kiwigal
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 7:36am
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I agree they took that risk and have deal with the consquences but in saying that I feel sorry for the wee boy. My two kids were both born just over 35 weeks as I have trouble towards the end of pregnancies and I will not be travelling overseas where I will put my baby at risk. |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 7:53am
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*bangs head*
"She said she did not have travel insurance as she did not expect to go into labour so early." Is that not the whole point of travel insurance .. ? ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 9:14am
Yeah but insurance is there to cover unforseen circumstances, I fully imagine that traveling at 36 weeks pregnant, the possibility of labour is not unforseen. You know you're pregnant so you know it can happen. Most insurances won't cover known medical conditions of which pregnancy would qualify as one. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 9:59am
| Playing devils advocate but I've never travelled with insurance. Not that I've travelled alot. But I can understand how she might think oh samoa for a few days, still a few weeks to go, its fine especially considering her first was late. No one imagines when going on a little holiday like that to prepare for a tsnami that might cause enough stress to bring on labour lol. So I think its a bit unfair to judge her like that. |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 10:32am
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I also find it hard to believ Samoa can't copw with a month early baby it must have some other medical issues.
I'm with everyone else it was a silly thing to do travelling at 36 weeks and now $100,000 has to be spent on this one family when think of all the other families in Samoa that could have helped. I'd rather donate to the Tsunami relief. |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 10:35am
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Having worked in an airline industry I can say nothing was more frustrating than people who didn't take out insurance and then got upset when they got sick and couldn't travel and couldn't get a refund. Like Julia said that's the whole point of insurance.
However, I think Paws is right and it wouldn't have been covered anyway. Her argument that the last baby came late is pretty lame though. She really shouldn't have been travelling that close to her EDD. I think it's horrible and I'm glad they're getting help but ultimately they should have been more responsible rather than just assuming a best case scenario. -------------  
 
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 10:35am
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At the risk of being slammed, I'm not saying I don't feel sorry for her or the baby but I do still think it was a bad judgement call to travel so late regardless of the circumstances of birth of a previous child. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 2:32pm
| the government has now said they will pay. Can't be bothered finding link but it's on nzherald |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 3:06pm
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I also read that her baby does have other issues other than being prem so that could account for the issues the hospital has in caring for him. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lemongirl
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 3:16pm
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I'm another person who travelled without insurance whilst pregnant.
In my case I thought to myself I'm 13 weeks all is going well, I'll be sweet and the Aussie healthcare system is there if I'm in trouble. Then I had a missed miscarriage. While medical care was free I did need to change my flights. Fourtantely I had enough Frequent flyer miles that it wasn't a big deal but if I hadn't been able to change my flights I would have been stuck having the D&C in Australia with no support people around. So yeah, bottom line get travel insurance. Esp if you are travelling to any 'bongo bongo' countries where the local hospital facilities leave a lot to be desired or the costs of a hospital stay would bankrupt you. |
Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 3:34pm
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We were glad we had medical insurance when we traveled to FIJI. Jackson got violently ill and there were talks about flying him via helicopter to Lautoka hospital. At $1500 for a ride I was glad I had medical insurance! Especially on an island where there are no doctors.
I just dont understand why people take risks, you never know what is going to happen to you! |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 3:49pm
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heres the update
http://http://www.nzherald.co.nz/samoa-tsunami/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502844&objectid=10601848 - link i think there is a big difference too traveling by yourself and with kids or unborn ones... you are putting the life of your unborn child at risk, especially when you travel so late in pregnancy to a country with limited medical care. i was laughing to myself at the people who post on here wondering if they should go to a concert so close to a due date, let alone to another country! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 3:59pm
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You can slam me all you like.
But this story really annoys me. How irresponsible and stupid can these people be. Due to them not doing a simple task in taking out travel insurance, they've put pressure on Samoa's already struggling health system and cost the NZ tax payer $100,000. If they couldn't get travel insurance for being 36 weeks pregnant then maybe they shouldn't have been travelling. So now we're all having to pay, and the child is taking up hospital resources that could have been used by samoan children effected by the tsunami. The cost of travel insurance is miniscule compared to the cost if something goes wrong. These people are idiots  ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 4:36pm
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Not that it would have covered these people but I'm another one who doesn't understand why people don't take travel insurance. I also saw it time and time again working in the airline industry...people who were so confident that nothing would go wrong where the same ones b*tching at us on the phones when they had to change thier flights and it costs $100's or even $1000's. It was hard not to laugh at those people when they whined at me that "they didn't know they were going to get sick/break a limb/have thier bags stolen". THAT'S WHAT INSURANCE IS FOR....WHAT YOU DON'T SEE HAPPENING!!!
Yes it really does annoy me that much because I was the one who copped it for other people's stupidity. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 4:37pm
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Totally agree with you mrsg1, I feel sorry for the baby having such irresponsible parents.
To be honest if I was stupid enough to get myself into that situation I would feel terribly guilty for taking up important hospital resources in such a crisis and wouldn't be whining about it in the paper hoping for people to give me money. |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 4:40pm
Well if the baby inherited the "stupid" gene from its parents .. its got loads of problems.  ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: HoneybunsMa
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 4:50pm
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RachandJack Samoa has very limited medical access. My SIL won't even take her boys for her jabs there. As much as we may think they are so close to NZ etc they should be living in the european style tbh a lot of them live in fales with palm tree leaves as the roofs, yes there is a little bit of tin but not alot. The floors if they do have a built up house are quite often falling in with holes in them. The amount of holes I had to dodge at DPs family home. They don't have clean water, if you aren't used to it then don't drink it. I certainly didn't when I was over there. They don't have the same sort of OSH requirements as we do. We went to a place to eat that we loved good food and all and the waiter was wearing jandals. Its no where near third world but they are very stuck in their ways and without trying to cause offence here to anyone they are very committed to the church and do give most of their money to the church if they have any at all. Also things over there are very expensive if you want any type of out of country product then you are looking at paying twice as much as you would here. Or last time I went you did ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 4:53pm
No slamming from me! I'm in your camp (but wasn't brave enough to say it!) ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 6:01pm
Not really sure why this was aimed at me but yeah I don't doubt that for a second, even more reason why it is silly to go there at 36 weeks... |
Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 6:30pm
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What baffles me is that this child has other medical issues (which sucks, I do feel for them), but surely these things would/should have been picked up at the anatomy scan?
So assuming they knew of these issues, why travel so late in the pregnancy. And if they DIDN'T know of these issues, why weren't they picked up at the 20 week scan. But that's a whole other kettle of fish. I'm glad the child is being brought back to NZ. It doesn't deserve to be left "stranded". I wish them luck. It's a hard lesson which I am sure they've now learned  ------------- 
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 6:41pm
Considering the government are flying them home for free, I doubt they learnt anything other than responsible people will look out for the stupid among us. (although I am a cynic) ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 7:23pm
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meh, i kinda agree - dumb not to get travel insurance, but i also think you guys are being a bit harsh too.
then again, I made damn sure I had insurance throughout my pregnancies (in japan and flew from japan to aus to nz) |
Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 9:11pm
Can someone please clarify.. is that a mullet? Just wondering... 
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 9:14pm
Dont you see alot of that particular style out West Yumi? ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 9:16pm
| LOL actually I used to sport such a hairdo myself once.. just check out my class photos (3rd form) on facebook and you'll see! hahaha |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 9:18pm
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Thankfully I can hold my hand up and swear I have never had a mullet .. the couple were westies though werent they? ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: rachndean
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 9:28pm
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Sorry guys, I posted this on here because I felt very firmly for that couple. Regardless of whether or not they were irresponsible in regards to the insurance. Despite the fact that this mistake was quite big, everyone makes mistakes at some point, and hopefully most people learn from those mistakes. At the end of the day, those poor people were pleading for help at a time that they were struggling with a situation that to me personally is incomprehendable.
I am in no way saying that they werent in the wrong for travelling that late in her pregnancy, more that I personally feel in no position to judge. I would like to think that if at any point I find myself stuck in a horrible situation where my childs life is in jeopardy, I would like to hope that some kind poeple will be willing to help me out. And now I am proud to say that I donated to help them get their little boy home. What makes the situation even better is that the government got them home, so my donations have been passed on to the Samoan relief. Sorry for the long post, I just felt that they deserved a little bit of support, and also wanted to point out that at the end of the day it was a little boys life on the line ------------- http://lilypie.com">
DD Savannah 18.01.04 DS Austin 04.09.08 |
Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 9:29pm
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Yep they are.
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 10:37pm
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yep there was a little boys life on the line... and i think that if the government hadnt had helped them home the public would have been horrified and outraged. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 09 October 2009 at 7:30am
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Where do you think the government gets its money from?
We all helped out as taxpayers to get these people out of a situation they put themselves in. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: my4beauties
Date Posted: 09 October 2009 at 9:27am
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Well I hope the little boy is now back under the NZ health system and getting all the help he needs ------------- My babies: R (9),G (7), J (5) http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 09 October 2009 at 12:54pm
agreed ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 09 October 2009 at 1:05pm
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I am coming back to NZ for a couple of weeks this weekend and I am not getting travel insurance...normally I always get and in fact I got it for the wedding when we came home in August...but had I actually read through the details I would have seen that after 20 weeks pregnancy I think it is, I would not have been covered medically -which is why not bothering this time, tho suppose covered for loss of bags! Hmm maybe will get it after all, hadn't thought about that hehe, just assumed not covered but guess just not medically.
However, since I am just coming to NZ and it would not be a disaster I am not too worried about getting insurance! But I would sure as heck not be going to anywhere else where I knew there was not the medical facilities in those 'just in case situations'. Seems a really strange decision to make..and in any case not supposed to fly after 36 weeks internationally -nationally is fine to fly until due date. So am guessing they didn't even check that huh? One thing to question...obviously won't be covered medically if pregnant..but would your new baby be covered by medical insurance, or would they also need to be named? If you had family insurance would they be covered? Curious about that now! Anyway, silly to a. go somewhere like that when so close to due date and b. not have insurance at least for loss of suitcases etc! ------------- 
 Oct 11
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 09 October 2009 at 10:32pm
I totally agree! I'm surprised a) the airline let them fly & b) her midwife or whoever cleared her to go to Samoa! Think of all the food things! I went at not even twenty weeks all of a sudden (like two days notice) & should have had jabs etc for infections etc cos i was preggy. Australia i can imagine, maybe uk or america, but Samoa? foreign country? just seems a bit odd to me. i mean by all means, dont wanna be harsh as there a baby involved, but really...... who'd go to a "third world" country where hospitals arent as good as nz when they about to have a baby? -------------   
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 09 October 2009 at 10:46pm
I totally agree Stacey! ------------- |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 09 October 2009 at 10:49pm
Doesnt bother me at all! Id rather my tax money to a cause like this, saving a babys life! The baby didnt ask to be put in that situation. ------------- |