An Asian-American Australian girl who suffered from malignant brain cancer at a young age is dying in Mexico on a ventilator. Her parents had to beg Australia's government to help her take her home in an effort to save her property.
Five-year-old Annabel Ruan (Annabelle Nguyen) received experimental chemotherapy for her brain cancer at a clinic in Monterrey, Mexico last year.
But now, her parents are in a dilemma, with neither the money to pay for her life on a ventilator, nor the cost of travelling back to Australia.
The Nguyen family went to Mexico after doctors in Australia told them that the little girl was hopeless.
In a diagnosis three years ago, Australian doctors said Annabel had only nine to 12 months left.
Mexican doctors' scans showed no signs of a fatal diffuse pons glioma (DIPG), an irreversible and fatal brain tumor, Australian media reported in February.
However, in early May, the tumor relapsed, and further treatment left the little girl unconscious.
Both parents have sold the house to pay three hundred thousand yuan for treatment.
In Mexico, they are charged 2300 yuan a day for life support-the little girl has been living on a ventilator since May 3, and that has now accumulated to 70, 000 yuan.
Annabel's mother, Sandy (Sandy), and his father, Mr. Nguyen (Trung Nguyen), said from Mexico that they were trapped and had to ask the federal government for help.
"I'm desperate. It's bad enough in this situation, and I don't get any help." "Annabel is still in a coma, she can't breathe, so we can't take the normal flight home," Mrs Nguyen told the media. That's why I tried to contact government to see if they could provide an ambulance flight. "
"We can't afford anything. We don't have a penny left. We're completely bankrupt. We can't stay, but in the light of the current situation, we can't leave. I want to take Annabel home and take better care of her, hoping for a glimmer of life. "
Mrs Nguyen said the Australian consulate in Mexico had informed her that they would not help send Australian citizens home. "they suggested that we open a Gofundme account for crowdfunding." She said.
The Ruan family already has an account, but the crowdfunding has been spent on medical expenses.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it had "provided consular assistance" to the Nguyen family, but declined to comment further.
Mrs Nguyen said she had contacted consular officials in Mexico and was asked to send medical documents back to Australia for evaluation.