Left Alone After Illegal Immigrant Parents Depart
Nurses Care Devotedly, Acting as Surrogate Parents
Intensive care unit nurses held a 100-day celebration for a baby left alone in Korea after being abandoned by foreign parents who were illegal immigrants. The story has touched many as the hospital, local government, and welfare organizations have all rolled up their sleeves to help the baby.
A 100-day table prepared by nurses at Busan Ilsin Christian Hospital. [Image source=Busan Dong-gu·Yonhap News]
On the 28th, Dong-gu District in Busan shared the story of a 1.2kg premature baby born on September 4 last year at Ilsin Christian Hospital in Dong-gu, Busan. The foreign mother, who was an illegal immigrant, left the hospital saying she would earn money for the medical bills but never returned. Later, she and her husband left for their home country.
The baby, born with only one kidney, was so weak that he could barely suck on a bottle and remained in the intensive care unit the entire time. It is reported that the baby’s eyes do not focus properly and he does not respond to sounds, raising suspicions of visual and hearing impairments. The baby also has difficulty eating and has only gained 200g in weight over the past month.
To help the baby left alone in a foreign country without any relatives, Dong-gu District, the hospital, and welfare organizations actively extended their support. First, Dong-gu applied to the court for a child protection order. This legal measure ensures that the baby can receive emergency care and protection at a facility or medical institution. Nurses at Ilsin Christian Hospital, who have been caring for the baby, dressed him in hanbok and prepared rice cakes and various foods to hold a 100-day celebration. Because the baby often cries, the nurses sometimes held him in one arm while attending to other children.
A Dong-gu official said, "The nurses at the hospital took on the role of parents and cared for the baby with utmost sincerity," adding, "Medical expenses were mostly waived as the baby was recognized as a type 1 medical aid recipient under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child for abandoned children."
However, starting from the 4th of next month, the baby will be transferred to Sohwa Infant Rehabilitation Center in Nam-gu. Since the baby is suspected to have disabilities, it was not easy to find a facility willing to accept him, but Sohwa Infant Rehabilitation Center stepped forward. The baby will receive treatment while attending a university hospital. The local government hopes the baby will return to his family and grow up healthy, and they are currently searching for the baby’s mother.
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