Stuck in Thailand: Family caught up in surrogacy controversy

A YOUNG Kempsey couple is among dozens of Australian families caught up in the controversy over Thailand’s commercial surrogacy laws.

Kate and Adam Osborne travelled to Thailand in July for the birth of their two baby girls on July 22 hoping they would be able to bring them home to start their new lives.

But the Thai government has stopped parents of surrogate children born in the country from leaving with their children until they obtain a court order granting consent from the birth mother.

These changes are in response to the recent controversy over a West Australian couple and the child, known as “baby Gammy”, who was allegedly abandoned by the couple after his birth because he has Downs Syndrome and other health problems.

The couple returned to Australia with the boy’s sister, leaving the Thai surrogate mother to care for the boy.

Other Australian couples have tried to leave the country in recent days without the proper documents and they have been turned back at the airport

For Kate and Adam, this has meant that their long-held dream of starting their own family has been put on hold as they wait in Thailand unable to leave the country with their babies until the legal matters are complete.

This has put them under great financial pressure as they try to pay a mortgage on a house in Kempsey and support themselves in Thailand, while they anxiously await the legal process to take its course.

Kate’s sister Sonia said the couple was stuck until the necessary court documents could be obtained.

“At the moment they are just holed up in their motel trying to make sense of what has happened,” she said. “Kate and Adam have been trying to have children for a long time, including multiple attempts at IVF treatment in Australia.

“They have had a lot of setbacks and sadness along the way and this was their last chance. Believe me, they have tried everything and this was not an easy option to take.

“We just want them home with their girls to be with their family. 

“Their families have only seen a picture of the little girls and all we want to do is hold them in our arms. It’s heartbreaking.”

The family has started a crowd funding effort to help the couple through their difficult time through which you can donate money which will be used for living expenses and legal costs.

The couple were due to return to Australia shortly but until the legal matters are sorted out they will remain in Thailand meaning they will miss their intended flight and will have to purchase more tickets to return when they can.

Details of the fundraising efforts and more of their story can be found here.