Premature British baby flies home from New York on private jet after £130k bill is wiped

A PREMATURE baby whose parents were initially hit with a £130,000 bill after he was born 11 weeks early at a US hospital has returned home in style.

Baby DaxENTERPRISE

Dad Lee Johnston and mum Katie Amos with baby Dax before they flew home from New York

It was like all of our New Years wishes had come true all at once.

Dax's mum, Katie Amos

Little Dax Lee Johnston, spent seven weeks in New York after his unexpected early birth while his parents, Katie Amos and Lee Johnston, both 30, were enjoying a four-day getaway after Christmas.

The proud parents were told the devastating news they couldn’t return safely to the UK until his original due date in March and then hit with medical bills in excess of $200,000 - or £130,000. 

The jaw-dropping figure would have been in addition to hotel bills, new flights, lost earnings and living costs.

But after insurers agreed to cover the massive bill and fundraisers raised enough cash to pay for the family's costs, they have now returned home in a private jet. 

Katie, from Burgh-le-Marsh Lincolnshire said: "When we were finally given the all-clear to come home I broke down in tears, we were so happy, no words could describe it.

"What had been a very slow process, all of a sudden changed and everything happened really quickly.

"It was like all of our New Years wishes had come true all at once.

"We were originally told that Dax wouldn't be well enough to make the journey home until earliest March, 10, which was his original due date.

"As Dax was premature he wasn't allowed to fly on a commercial airline, the only reason we are home now is because we had a specially equipped aircraft and Dax had his own incubator.

Baby Dax 2ENTERPRISE

Mum Katie Amos holds little baby Dax in the New York hospital where he was born

"On Thursday we were given the all-clear from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York to come back to the UK."

Katie said the couple learned that Pilgrim Hospital, Leicestershire, had a bed for Dax, giving them a "24-hour window" to get him home before other patients booked in.

On Friday night they were transferred to the airport with Dax in an incubator.

They were brought home on a private plane with a team of doctors and nurses in what Katie described as being "like a military operation".

"We have been on such an emotional journey and it's so amazing to be back in the UK with all our friends and family," she added.

Katie and Lee were stunned when their son arrived almost three months early while they were on a last-minute holiday. 

What was meant to be a short four day break for the expecting parents turned into a seven-week roller coaster .

The couple had been sightseeing when Katie went into labour.

Katie said: "We had been trying to cram as much in as we could in our four day trip.

Baby Dax 3ENTERPRISE

Lee Johnston and Katie Amos have expressed thanks to their insurer and to people who donated cash

Britons stranded in New York with £130k medical bill post New Years message

"We were on the Central Park movie tour when I started getting sharp pains, I knew something was wrong but I kept dismissing it.

"I don't know how but we managed to finish the tour, I just knew I needed to rest, but when we made it back to the hotel we phoned a doctor who told us to get to a hospital straight away.

"I was examined and nearly passed out when the nurses told me I was four centimeters dilated and Dax was on his way." 

After giving birth, the couple were shocked to discover they could be left with a whopping $130k medical bill - but now their insurers, Allianz, have confirmed they will cover all the care costs.

Katie said: "When we arrived at the hospital one of the nurses asked Lee to sort out our medical insurance.

"When he came back he was grey in the face - the woman he had spoken to said she wouldn't accept our insurance, it was so scary.

"The prices were sky high, for a ten minute examination it cost $500 for a start. 

"We were horrified when we started adding up the cost of everything which would've amounted to around $130,000.

"What made it worse was it was the holidays so everywhere was closed, we thought for nearly a week that we would be left to pay this on our own." 

Luckily the pair, who are both fitness instructors, were covered.

Katie said: "We have cried, laughed and felt everything in between, it's been a really tough journey and we are over the moon that it's finally over.

"When we finally received Dax's American passport it was a huge milestone, we could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Katie said that it could've taken up to three months to get Dax a UK passport, adding: "We wanted to get him home as soon as we could, so Dax has a US passport and birth certificate."

Proud father Lee said: "The timing wasn't the best, but I guess Dax couldn't wait any longer.

"We couldn't be more thankful to our family and friends who have kept us strong even when we have been miles apart."

Family friend Richard Crow set up Facebook page "Dax’s Tale of New York" as part of the efforts to raise cash to cover the couple's non-medical expenses. 

Donations from around the world have totalled more than £12,000, with any left-over cash going to the Ronald McDonald Fund. 

The charity provides free accommodation to families while their child is in hospital.

"We want to express our gratitude to Allianz for their tremendous help, as well as all the kind strangers who have donated nearly £12,000 to help my family," Lee said.

"Without this money I don't know what we would've done."

The final step of the journey for Dax will be to grow big enough and get well enough to return to his own home.

Katie said: "So many people have pulled together to help us get our little boy home - we will never forget it.

"The next step of our new life with Dax can finally begin, we couldn't be more happy." 

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