Chloe Mowday, a 31-year-old Australian woman, is currently battling for her life in a Vietnamese hospital following complications from cosmetic surgery. Mowday, her husband Josh, and their youngest son Elijah had embarked on a trip to Vietnam, with plans to also visit Disneyland in Hong Kong and Universal Studios in Singapore. While in Da Nang, a coastal city in central Vietnam, Mowday underwent a rhinoplasty and a blepharoplasty, both generally considered safe and routine procedures.
However, the morning after her surgeries, Mowday began to feel severely ill and was quickly taken to a nearby hospital. According to her brother, Rod, she had stayed overnight at the clinic in Da Nang after her procedures. The following morning, she was returned to her hotel, where her condition began to deteriorate. Despite taking prescribed medication and resting, Mowday’s health continued to decline, eventually leading to organ failure.
Rod suspects that his sister may have developed toxic shock syndrome, a rare and potentially fatal complication caused by a bacterial infection. However, this has not been confirmed, and Mowday is still undergoing tests to determine the exact cause of her condition. A police investigation into the incident is also in progress.
Mowday’s condition has required dialysis, a blood transfusion, and medication to stabilize her blood pressure. Rod, who flew to Vietnam with his daughter upon hearing the news, described the situation as heartbreaking. He was allowed to visit his sister, who is currently in the ICU at Da Nang Hospital, for 15 minutes each day during his five-day stay.
Doctors have attempted to bring Mowday out of her induced coma, but these efforts have been unsuccessful. As of last Thursday, she was awake but unresponsive and remains on life support. The family has been advised that keeping her in the hospital could increase her risk of infection, and they are now trying to arrange for her return to Australia.
To help cover the mounting medical costs, including a $228,000 quote for a Medevac flight home, the family has reluctantly started a GoFundMe campaign. So far, they have raised just over $15,000. The family is also in contact with the Australian Embassy in Vietnam and locally for assistance with the transfer.
Rod described his sister as a beautiful and loving soul, with three young children and a devoted husband. The family is also exploring other financial avenues, such as bank loans and accessing retirement funds, to help cover the medical expenses. A police report has been filed by the hospital, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.