A Montrose dad has pleaded for help as his three-month-old daughter gets set to undergo heart surgery in Vietnam.
Steve Murray, who now works in Vietnam, is raising money to help fund Lena’s operation after being left devastated by the diagnosis.
Lena is currently in the children’s hospital in Ho Chi Minh City where they have been told to “be prepared” after Mr Murray and his wife were told she has an open heart valve and will require surgery.
Mr Murray set up an online page to raise £1,000 for the cost of Thursday’s surgery which has been shared in Angus and the publicity has already sparked a surge of donations.
He said he burst into tears after seeing the contributions which have allowed him to emerge from “a very dark tunnel” after being given “hope for the first time”.
He said: “We recently took our beautiful baby girl to get vaccinated and were told that she had a heart and lung problem.
“We have been notified that if left untreated, her heart won’t be able to support her growing body and she will inevitably pass away.
“We aren’t supported with insurance and my wife and I don’t earn enough money to pay for the treatment we need and are in a desperate situation to help our daughter before it is too late.
“These funds will help towards paying for our beloved daughter’s heart surgery and care costs for after surgery.
“We’re afraid of losing our daughter, especially at her young age and want to ask the help of any and all people who can lend their support to us in this difficult time.”
Mr Murray said they have been informed by medical staff in Ho Chi Minh City that Lena’s heart condition “is a bigger problem than we had been originally led to believe”.
“She is only three and a half months old and she already has a death sentence hanging over her head,” he said.
“I don’t want her to die.”
The Vietnamese government is currently working to develop a universal healthcare plan which will cover all residents with basic medical care.
Mr Murray expressed his gratitude for the support he and his family had received so far.
He said: “First of all, thanks to every single person who has donated so far, I didn’t have much hope when I started fundraising, I wasn’t even sure it was going to help at all but the solidarity and support I’ve seen from everyone back home has been incredible and completely unexpected!
“With the help from my countrymen and women, and all of my supporters we will be able to save the life of my beautiful, 3 month old little girl and continue to be able to help and care for her in the coming weeks if everything is successful in surgery”
People can donate and follow Lena’s progress at https://www.gofundme.com/nprf3e-heart-surgery-help
