Baby Boy Born 4 Months Premature While Family Was on Cruise

A fundraising effort has been established to support a Gwinnett County family, whose baby boy was born nearly four months prematurely while they were on a cruise vacation last month in the Caribbean.

Melvin Richards, his wife Gay Ann and daughter were on a Carnival cruise before Christmas when a medical emergency six days in led to the birth of Micah at a hospital in the Turks and Caicos, WSB-TV reported this week.

The baby was recovering this week in Miami, with his mother by his side, the TV station reported.

>> See WSB’s full report here

Melvin Richards said on GoFundMe that Micah’s birth weight on Dec. 12 was 1 pound, 4 ounces. Gay Ann was only in her 22nd week when the Snellville family left Miami on an 8-day cruise to the Virgin Islands on the cruise ship Carnival Breeze. The trip was to celebrate Melvin’s 40th birthday and completion of his master’s degree, he said on GoFundMe, which was set up to help defray medical costs.

>>To donate, click on the “Micah’s medical expenses and trips” GoFundMe page.

“The night of the 5th day, my wife started having back and belly pains,” Richards posted. “However, our initial thoughts were her fibroids. From the early stages of the pregnancy, my wife has been battling fibroid issues.”

The pain turned into an emergency the next day, according to the Melvin’s account on GoFundMe, and Gay Ann was air-lifted by the Coast Guard off the ship to the Turks and Caicos. After the birth, mother and child were flown to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where Micah remained this week. Gay Ann suffered complications follewing the birth, but has since recovered to be with her son in Miami, Channel 2 reported.

Melvin reports Micah has been getting stronger: “Just want you all to know that Micah is growing and tolerating mom’s milk really well,” he wrote on GoFundMe during the weekend.

The family is expected to face considerable medical costs.

Melvin Richards also posted the following on GoFundMe:

This unexpected situation is very distressful for my family and that is why I am asking for any financial assistance I get. I am normally the person on the other end (helping) of the equation. Presently, all of our financial resources are depleted. The donation is to assist with my wife travelling and lodging, as well as to replenish and pay off some of the other bills we incur during this ordeal. Financially all assistances are appreciated. This Christmas did not happen at our home as my wife was in the hospital and our son in another hospital far from us. As we start this New Year, my wish is to be financially able to do the things I must, as well as to accomplish all preplanned goals. If you are not financially able to assist, please pray for me and my family.

More than $2,000 had been raised as of Tuesday afternoon.

(Photo: GoFundMe)