A Minnesota couple, Chris and Cheri Phillips from Cambridge, planned a two-week trip to Brazil in February to commemorate Chris's daughter Melory's eighth birthday.
Their vacation unexpectedly extended to nearly four months after Cheri went into premature labor, giving birth to their son Greyson at 28 weeks.
Cheri Phillips Gave Birth Prematurely While on Vacation in Brazil
Arriving in Brazil on February 22, the couple planned to relax before welcoming their first child together, due in early June.
However, on March 8, just days before their projected comeback, Cheri encountered labor pains and was taken to a local maternity hospital in Florianópolis.
Despite attempts by doctors to postpone the birth, Greyson was given birth via emergency C-section on March 12, weighing just over 2 pounds.
Their trouble was complex because of logistical and bureaucratic difficulties, as well as health issues. Greyson spent 51 days in the NICU, during which Chris, fluent in Portuguese, translated between Cheri and the medical staff.
Cheri found it annoying, fearing for Greyson's health and agonizing with the language barrier.
Greyson was diagnosed with patent foramen ovale (PFO), a heart condition. Meanwhile, the couple navigated the complicated process of obtaining Greyson's birth certificate and passport, including legal assistance, help from a U.S. senator's office, and media attention.
Despite the hurdles, the family worked remotely from Brazil, bought necessary baby supplies, and completed a house sale in Minnesota. They finally obtained Greyson's emergency U.S. passport on June 5 and planned to return to Minnesota on June 25.
Chris and Cheri highlighted the positive aspect of their extended stay: the bonding between Greyson and Melory, who took on the role of a devoted big sister.
Greyson's unexpected birth in the same hospital where Melory was born created a special connection for the siblings in Brazil.
Minnesota Couple Attempting to Bring Their Newborn Son Back to US
A Minnesota couple, Cheri and Chris Phillips attempted to bring their newborn son, Greyson, back to the U.S. after he was born three months prematurely during their trip to Brazil.
The couple, six months pregnant at the time, had journeyed to Brazil in February with their doctors' authorization.
Two days before their projected return, Cheri was hospitalized with difficulties and had an emergency C-section. Greyson was born on March 12, weighing just over 2 pounds, and spent 51 days in intensive care.
Now, the Phillips face difficulties in attaining a passport for Greyson to leave Brazil. The local registry office has refused to issue a birth certificate due to the couple's U.S. passports not listing their parents' names.
Despite hiring a lawyer, progress has been slow. Furthermore, they need to visit a U.S. consulate 300 miles away for Greyson's U.S. documentation, which is complex due to flooding in the area and Greyson's small size.
Sen. Tina Smith's office is working with the embassy to assist, but the couple still needs a birth certificate from the Brazilian government.
The circumstances are overpowering and they hope to return to their home in Cambridge, Minnesota soon.
Data from the CDC signifies that early-term and preterm births have been growing in the U.S. over the past decade.
