US mom stranded in Hong Kong after giving birth prematurely and can't leave until $18K hospital bill is paid in full as bill goes up $1,600 a day! 

  • Wendy Morrow gave birth prematurely in Hong Kong earlier this month and is now unable to return home until the medical bills are paid
  • The hospital would not release the infant's birth certificate to the family due to the medical bills, the family needs the certificate for the child's passport
  • After receiving much medical attention, the hospital has agreed to release the child's birth certificate  

By Charlene Adams for MailOnline

Published: 14:13 EST, 15 May 2015 | Updated: 16:10 EST, 15 May 2015

An Iowa woman is fighting to bring her newborn baby home from China after she went into labor prematurely in Hong Kong.

Wendy Morrow was 32 weeks pregnant when she flew to Hong Kong for her brother's wedding. She went into labor prematurely during a layover and now says she and her baby can't leave until the medical bills are paid, CNN reports. 

'The hospital will not release [the baby's] birth certificate until the hospital bill is paid in full. We need the birth certificate to get the passport to get him home,' Morrow told KPLC-TV. 

Ms Morrow (pictured at the Hong Kong hospital with her son) was 31 weeks pregnant when she went into labor during a layover. She was traveling to Xiamen for her brother's wedding when she gave birth to Kyuss nine weeks early

Fighting: Wendy Morrow (right) is fighting to bring her newborn baby home from China after she went into labor prematurely in Hong Kong

The hospital could not release baby Kyuss' birth certificate - needed to get a passport for the child - until the $18,000 medical bill is paid in full

Kyuss: The hospital could not release baby Kyuss' birth certificate -- needed to get a passport for the child -- until the $18,000 medical bill is paid in full

Baby Kyuss was born on May 7 and Morrow and her family have been stuck in Hong Kong ever since. 

However, the family received word that Princess Margaret Hospital would issue a birth certificate for baby Kyuss on Saturday due to the media attention, according to CNN.

Kyuss' lungs were underdeveloped when he was born and he is in an incubator in the special care unit, FOX reports. 

The family has set up a GoFundMe account to cover expenses including hospital costs that, they say, add up to $18,000 as well as other expenses including Morrow's $60-a-day hotel stay and her meals. 

Morrow told CNN that each day Kyuss spends in the hospital, another $1,600 (or 12,401 HKD) is added to the bill.  

Kyuss' lungs were underdeveloped when he was born and he was kept in an incubator at the Hong Kong hospital 

Incubator: Kyuss' lungs were underdeveloped when he was born and he is in an incubator in the special care unit (photographed)

The family received word that Princess Margaret Hospital (photographed) would issue a birth certificate for baby Kyuss on Saturday due to the media attention

Hospital: The family received word that Princess Margaret Hospital (photographed) would issue a birth certificate for baby Kyuss on Saturday due to the media attention

Premature: Baby Kyuss was born nine weeks early and weighed just 4lbs. He was initially kept in an incubator because his lungs were underdeveloped and tube-fed 

One Week: As Kyuss gets stronger, the family is eager to get back to Iowa with the child; doctors have told the family that Kyuss can be released in one week and would be fit for flying

Morrow's sister and brother-in-law told FOX that traveler's insurance will cover $10,000 of the cost but they say they've been told Morrow's health insurance won't cover any of the costs. 

The family reached out to Iowa congressman Steve King's office for help but were told in an email that Medicaid/Medicare do not cover medical treatment from foreign hospitals. 

They were told to seek help from the U.S. Embassy in Hong Kong, but the family was told that the Embassy has never encountered such a situation and so officials are figuring out what to do as they go along, according to KPLC-TV. 

Costs: Morrow's sister and brother-in-law said hat traveler's insurance will cover $10,000 of the cost but they say they've been told Morrow's health insurance won't cover any of the costs

Costs: Morrow's sister and brother-in-law said hat traveler's insurance will cover $10,000 of the cost but they say they've been told Morrow's health insurance won't cover any of the costs

The family reached out to Iowa congressman Steve King's office for help but were told in an email that Medicaid/Medicare do not cover medical treatment from foreign hospitals

Congressman: The family reached out to Iowa congressman Steve King's office for help but were told in an email that Medicaid/Medicare do not cover medical treatment from foreign hospitals

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa told the family in an email that his office would make an inquiry on the family's behalf. 

The family has raised $9,283 on the GoFundMe account as of Friday. However, the family's load may soon be lightened when the hospital releases Kyuss' birth certificate.

As Kyuss gets stronger, the family is eager to get back to Iowa with the child. Doctors have told the family that Kyuss can be released in one week and would be fit for flying, CNN reports.

Morrow's sister and brother-in-law previously told FOX that traveler's insurance will cover $10,000 of the cost but they say they've been told Morrow's health insurance won't cover any of the costs 

Labor: Morrow and her family flew to Hong Kong for her brother's wedding, but Morrow went into labor at just 32 weeks pregnant 

Baby Kyuss' story has gained a lot of media attention, and the family has even begun selling t-shirts to help cover the medical costs

T-Shirt: Baby Kyuss' story has gained a lot of media attention, and the family has even begun selling t-shirts to help cover the medical costs

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