An Australian mother, aged 31, is in a critical condition in a hospital abroad after experiencing total organ failure following cosmetic surgery during a family vacation.
Chloe Mowday, from Australia, set off on a family holiday with her husband Josh and their youngest child to explore southeast Asia, with stops planned in Hong Kong and Singapore to visit Disneyland and Universal Studios.
Unfortunately, the trip was abruptly interrupted in its early stages when Mowday underwent cosmetic surgery in Da Nang, Vietnam, involving two procedures typically considered low-risk.
Mowday, a mother of three, had a rhinoplasty and a blepharoplasty. However, just a day after the surgeries, she experienced severe complications, leading to a critical condition and hospitalization. Her family reported a brief moment where she appeared to have passed away.
The situation deteriorated rapidly the morning after the surgery when Mowday began feeling extremely unwell.
In a conversation with news.com.au, Chloe’s brother, Rod, recounted: “She spent the night at a clinic in Da Nang, and the next morning she returned to her hotel. A few hours later, her condition worsened.
“She began feeling unusual pain in areas beyond the surgery sites and took the prescribed medication before resting. Hours later, Josh found her unresponsive; she stopped breathing, and it seems her organs had started to fail rapidly.”
A GoFundMe page initiated by her family states Mowday ‘died on the way to hospital’ but was resuscitated by dedicated local medical staff, who placed her on life support in an induced coma.
Medical personnel have since attempted to bring her out of the coma, but she continues to face significant health challenges.
“They gradually reduced the medication, but her body couldn’t cope, so she was placed back into an induced coma,” Rod explained.
“As of the last update (Thursday), her eyes are open, but she remains unresponsive and on life support.”
Rod shared with local media his belief that his sister might have suffered from toxic shock syndrome, a rare surgical complication, but doctors are still investigating the illness’s cause.
The situation is further complicated by a language barrier at the hospital, making it challenging to fully understand her condition and treatment plan.
“The doctors acknowledge her strength, but when asked about her prognosis, they couldn’t provide a clear answer, likely due to legal constraints,” Rod mentioned.
Mowday is cherished by her family as a ‘beautiful’ person with a ‘loving soul’, with her husband and five-year-old son remaining by her side throughout her hospital stay.
Vietnamese doctors have advised that her recovery prospects might improve if she returns to Australia, a move that would cost her family $228,000 (AUD).
Generous contributions have been made to aid her return home, with $25,000 raised so far. More information is available on Chloe Mowday’s GoFundMe page here.