The newborn child of a mother who learned she was facing deportation while heavily pregnant has been rushed in for an emergency medical test where it was discovered the child was suffering from a condition in the brain.

The stressful situation for the new parents is far from over, with the threat of deportation hanging over their heads, and ever-higher medical bills while they pray for their child’s life in Mater Dei.

Lovin Malta has reported about Corazon* – who’s real name is Rechelle – several times over recent weeks. She decided that given the urgency of baby Isla’s situation, she no longer needed to be kept anonymous.

And they say they’ve already faced different standards in hospital – 15 minutes after the nurse in charge of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ward taking care of Rechelle’s newborn baby was informed that Corazon and her husband Gabriel* were “paying customers” – their baby was rushed in for an MRI.

The baby was born just a few days ago, and was immediately taken to NICU for monitoring. It was quickly determined that she would need an MRI.

They parents were told that the MRI could take “a few days, or a few weeks,” according to Patricia Graham, who has been working to help the couple – who are both Third Country Nationals – since Rechelle’s deportation notice was issued when her pregnancy had almost come to full term.

“I got on the phone to Blue Ward, and spoke to the nurse in charge,” said Graham, who founded the EU Nationals and Malta Residents Advisory Group.

“I said: ‘Rechelle is in the situation where her baby is not on a monitor, is not on any medication, and is just waiting for this MRI. She’s been told, that the MRI could take a few days, or  could take a few weeks’.”

“I said to her, ‘What you’re not realising is that every additional day that baby is spending in the NICU is costing her parents €1000’,” Graham paused.

“Then, the nurse said, ‘Oh, she’s a paying client?’”