SINGAPORE: A campaign "Help My Premature Baby Jero" is currently ongoing to raise S$280,000 for a Malaysian couple's premature baby boy's medical cost in Singapore.

The appeal was made by the Malaysian parent who is working in the republic through GIVE.asia, Asia's leading free fundraising platform for fundraisers to raise money for their causes.

"He is my first child, we are grateful for his arrival. He was born on April 9, 2021 exactly 27 weeks weighing only 1000g," said Chee Hou in GIVE.asia website.

The photos of the baby with the name Jero are also appended at the website.

Chee Hou said his plan was to go back to Malaysia for his wife to give birth, and the estimated due date is supposed to be on July 9, 2021.

However, on April 9 at 3am, his wife felt the pain in her abdomen and the amniotic fluid started flowing out.

"I immediately rushed her to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. Due to emergency, the doctor immediately performed caesarean to bring my baby boy out, in order to save both the mother and baby," he said.

According to Chee Hou, the baby's organ had not fully developed and was required to stay in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for 101 days of observation.

"It's very difficult for us to cope with this huge amount of the medical bill, we have used out our savings to clear part of it but the bill is still continuously increasing.

"Doctors foresee the baby to remain at the hospital for at least two more months. The estimated cost given for the stay in hospital is S$230,000 to S$280,000," said Chee Hou.

All funds raised will be managed by Giveasia Kindness which will pay directly to KK Hospital for Baby Jero's medical bills.

As at 9.55am, it was observed at https://give.asia/campaign/help-my-premature-baby-jero#/ that S$224,767 has been raised.

-- BERNAMA