A Perth mother's dream holiday turned into a life-threatening nightmare after a minor cosmetic procedure in Vietnam went catastrophically wrong, leading to a desperate international fight for her survival.
Chloe Mowday, 33, has finally returned to Australian soil after being medically evacuated, with her family describing her homecoming as nothing short of a miraculous event following weeks of anguish.
A Holiday Turned Medical Crisis
The mother-of-three was enjoying a holiday in Vietnam when she decided to undergo what were described as minor cosmetic procedures on her nose and eyelids. The surgery did not go as planned, triggering a severe medical disaster.
Ms Mowday suffered multiple organ failures and had to be placed in an induced coma. A spreading infection necessitated further surgery, while her body battled pneumonia and sepsis. Her family revealed her toes turned black and she required daily dialysis and blood transfusions.
Her husband and son were forced to remain in Vietnam by her side, grappling with language barriers, skyrocketing medical costs, and deep uncertainty about her care.
The Fight to Bring Her Home
Doctors eventually delivered a critical assessment: Chloe Mowday's chance of survival would be significantly higher if she could be treated in Australia. This sparked a race against time to organise a complex and costly medical evacuation.
In a moment her family had been desperately praying for, Ms Mowday was flown home on a medical aircraft just before Christmas. "She smiled and cried when I told Chloe 'I'm here to take you home'," her brother Rod told PerthNow.
While now awake, talking, and breathing on her own, her memory of the ordeal is fragmented. "She doesn't remember much and is overwhelmed, we have a long way to go," Rod said.
A Long Road to Recovery Ahead
Despite the immense relief of having her back in the country, the family warns that Chloe's battle is far from over. She remains critically ill and in intensive care, facing a protracted and difficult recovery.
"She is doing a little bit better, but she's still in intensive care and it's going to be a very long road to recover," Rod stated.
The Western Australian community has rallied behind the family, with donations pouring in to help cover the six-figure costs of the medical flight and ongoing treatment through a GoFundMe campaign.
The family has expressed profound gratitude for the support and specifically thanked the Family Medical Practice in Vietnam for their role in the complex repatriation effort. For Chloe Mowday and her loved ones, the focus is now on the gruelling journey of healing that lies ahead.
