Update: Quadruplets’ parents speaks out
Parents vow to continue to fight for their baby's life.
The three remaining Emery infants who were hardly the size of their father’s hand at birth, are critical but doing well, says their mom.
What should have been a celebration of a miracle for the Emerys, has become a harrowing struggle.
On 28 June quadruplets were born three months premature to Rob and Chantel Emery, a paraplegic, at Flora Life Clinic. Although the four boys, Bradley, Harvey, Gabriel and Daniel were frail their parents were still overjoyed. The boys were put on ventilators and the Emerys believed all would be fine because recently they took out medical aid that would provide for uncapped hospitalisation.
On 9 July they received the shocking news that their bill was already R800 000 and the medical aid would not pay more than R1 million. The medical aid also refused to pay any longer for two of the boys because they weighed less than one kilogram. One of the boys, Bradley sadly passed away on 14 July due to complications leaving the parents devastated. Regardless of the tragedy the parents now had an uphill battle with their medical aid trying to convince them the plan they were on was not the one they asked for.
“Having been hospitalised in 2008 after my motor vehicle accident I knew how expensive a stay in hospital could be and I would never have signed for anything less than 100 per cent coverage,” stressed Chantel.
A visibly tired Rob weighed in.
“Except for the fact that the boys can not be moved, never mind moved to a state hospital, I also found out that at a state hospital they refuse to treat a new born weighing less than 1kg. This means someone in government and the medical aid just decided it is not worth fighting for a newborn’s life if he weighs less than 1kg,” said Rob with disgust. According to Rob the medical aid are just shrugging their shoulders saying they should take up the matter with their broker.
“But the fight is on,” he said. “I am consulting with my legal experts and will be taking the case to the High Court if it is not resolved,” he says determinedly. “Hopefully that would set a precedent which can benefit other parents in a similar situation.” Rob did not want to divulge more about the legal route due to the sensitive nature of the matter. He said there are other options though such as extended cover but it is not a given that the medical aid will grant it
The couple says the matter has affected their private lives profoundly.
“You must understand we have four other children at home that can see our stress. We are up and down to the hospital at all times and over and above that we still have to provide for our family,” said Rob who is an estate agent. Chantel does consulting to raise disability awareness.
Rob is also hoping to start a foundation in memory of his son, Beards for Bradley which he hopes will grow to such an extent that it could help people who land up in a similar situation.
The couple’s sense of humour remained in tact regardless of their tiring struggle.
“We thought we were going to have one baby. Then with the second visit to the gynaecologist we found out it was going to be two. I was still okay and thought it was quite cool but when the told us at the third visit it is going to be three I nearly had a heart attack. It took me three weeks to process the information,” he laughed. At birth they discovered there was a fourth boy.
Before they depart Chantel stoically emphasizes their intent.
“We will not give up. We can not afford to.”
For more information visit their Facebook page The Awesome Foursome Emery Boys.
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Also read: Baby’s life hangs in the balance
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