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| Surrogate mother vows to care for abandoned Down's baby | Surrogate mother vows to care for abandoned Down's baby |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A Thai woman who carried a baby with Down's syndrome as a surrogate mother has vowed to take care of the boy after his natural parents gave him up. | |
| The Australian couple left Gammy, now six months old, with Pattaramon Chanbua but took his healthy twin sister. | The Australian couple left Gammy, now six months old, with Pattaramon Chanbua but took his healthy twin sister. |
| "Why does he have to go through all the hardships? I love him... He's like my child now," Ms Pattaramon said. | "Why does he have to go through all the hardships? I love him... He's like my child now," Ms Pattaramon said. |
| Gammy has a congenital heart condition, a lung infection and Down's and is in a Thai hospital for urgent treatment. | Gammy has a congenital heart condition, a lung infection and Down's and is in a Thai hospital for urgent treatment. |
| A campaign to help the baby begun online after Thai newspaper Thairath published Gammy's story last week. | A campaign to help the baby begun online after Thai newspaper Thairath published Gammy's story last week. |
| It has raised more than A$150,000 ($140,000; £83,000) from 3,400 donors in 11 days. | It has raised more than A$150,000 ($140,000; £83,000) from 3,400 donors in 11 days. |
| In Australia, Prime Minister Tony Abbott expressed his sadness: "I guess it illustrates some of the pitfalls involved in this particular business. | In Australia, Prime Minister Tony Abbott expressed his sadness: "I guess it illustrates some of the pitfalls involved in this particular business. |
| "It's a very, very, sad story and I hate to think that, you know, a child could be abandoned like that." | "It's a very, very, sad story and I hate to think that, you know, a child could be abandoned like that." |
| Abortion refused | Abortion refused |
| Ms Pattaramon was paid $15,000 (£9,000) to be a surrogate for the couple, whose identities remain unknown. | Ms Pattaramon was paid $15,000 (£9,000) to be a surrogate for the couple, whose identities remain unknown. |
| She was told of the child's condition four months after becoming pregnant, prompting the couple to ask her to have an abortion. | She was told of the child's condition four months after becoming pregnant, prompting the couple to ask her to have an abortion. |
| She refused, saying it was against her Buddhist beliefs. | She refused, saying it was against her Buddhist beliefs. |
| Tares Krassanairawiwong, a Thai health official, said it was illegal to pay for surrogacy in Thailand and surrogates must be related to the natural parents. | Tares Krassanairawiwong, a Thai health official, said it was illegal to pay for surrogacy in Thailand and surrogates must be related to the natural parents. |
| Ms Pattaramon, 21, who already has two children, says she cannot afford to pay for expensive treatment. | Ms Pattaramon, 21, who already has two children, says she cannot afford to pay for expensive treatment. |
| "The money that was offered was a lot for me. In my mind, with that money, one, we can educate my children, we can repay our debt," she told Australia's ABC broadcaster. | "The money that was offered was a lot for me. In my mind, with that money, one, we can educate my children, we can repay our debt," she told Australia's ABC broadcaster. |
| 'Horrible neglect!' | 'Horrible neglect!' |
| Gammy's story prompted strong reactions online, with many congratulating Hands Across the Water, the charity brought in to deal with donations and medical assistance. | Gammy's story prompted strong reactions online, with many congratulating Hands Across the Water, the charity brought in to deal with donations and medical assistance. |
| Other were quick to condemn the biological parents. | Other were quick to condemn the biological parents. |
| "May this selfish and heartless couple be exposed and shamed for this horrible neglect!" one comment read. | "May this selfish and heartless couple be exposed and shamed for this horrible neglect!" one comment read. |
| "As a mother of twins, knowing the bond that twins have, the thought that someone would split up twins I find appalling!!" said another. | "As a mother of twins, knowing the bond that twins have, the thought that someone would split up twins I find appalling!!" said another. |
| In an interview with the Australian newspaper group Fairfax Media, she said she forgave the Australian couple and was only concerned about Gammy's future. | In an interview with the Australian newspaper group Fairfax Media, she said she forgave the Australian couple and was only concerned about Gammy's future. |
| "I don't wish him to be the smart boy or intelligent person…I just want to see him as a good man," Ms Pattaramon said. | "I don't wish him to be the smart boy or intelligent person…I just want to see him as a good man," Ms Pattaramon said. |