A dad could be torn away from his newborn daughter just days after holding her for the first time.
Matthew Melia from Bromborough lives in Shenzhen, China with his wife DanDan. The couple's daughters Mia and Scarlett were born via caesarean section on May 3.
They had planned to return home to the UK before the birth but complications led to the twins being born two months early. Sadly, Scarlett's condition was so severe that Matthew, 35, and DanDan, 33, were faced with the decision to stop treatment altogether.
Scarlett Rose died in Matthew’s arms on June 8 and Mia underwent brain surgery at just six weeks old and is fighting the many complications of being preterm.
Matthew is living in China on a student visa and is trying to raise £25,000 so he can bring Mia home to the UK. However, Matthew has now been told that he must return to Liverpool next month when his visa expires leaving his sick daughter and wife behind.
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Matthew's mum Sue told the ECHO: "They had not been able to hold Mia and there is a strict no visitors rule even for parents. But the doctors called them in and said she was well enough for Matt and DanDan to hold her.
"They were just amazed and started crying the both of them could not believe they were finally allowed to hold their baby. Little by little Mia is getting better but she is still seriously ill but things are improving."
Mia is in hospital in a different city to where her parents were living with Matt and DanDan renting a flat near the hospital. Unfortunately, due to lack of funds they have now had to return to Shenzhen. They are now returning twice a week to the hospital with frozen breast milk.
Sue said: "His face said it all and over the last six months I have not seen him look like that and have been so worried. He does not have the option to stay in China.
"He could be torn away from his daughter already, he just got to hold her and now he might have to leave her... We want Mia to come home so she can get a permanent shunt put in which is an internal drain on the brain."
While Mia's condition is improving every day doctors have said she is still not strong enough to fly back to the UK. Matthew and DanDan are now hoping her condition improves quickly enough and they raise enough money before Matthew's visa runs out.
Sue said: "We think Mia is almost ready to fly and doctors are saying it is looking like she can travel sometime in August... Matt would be devastated if he had to leave his wife and daughter behind, I'm not sure if he could."
Together with Lia’s Wings, the family has raised £15,000 so far towards the costs of the air transfer. They are now reaching out to others to help secure the final £25,000 needed for the special medical flight home.
If you would like to donate to the page more information can be found here.
