Family Faces $500,000 Bill to Bring Autistic Son Home From Japan
An Australian family's dream vacation turned into a nightmare as their autistic son developed a fear of flying, potentially costing them $500,000 for his return.
A family on what was meant to be the "holiday of a lifetime" in Japan is facing a potential bill of $500,000 to bring their autistic son home. Mel and Brad James, along with their three children, traveled to Tokyo Disney Resort to celebrate their son Ryan's 18th birthday. However, Ryan, who has autism, developed an intense fear of flying, making him unable to board a domestic flight within Japan.
This unexpected development means Ryan is considered "unfit to fly" and requires a special medical certificate for his return to Australia. The estimated cost for a medical retrieval flight, including sedation and intubation, is at least $296,000, with additional medical expenses potentially raising the total to $500,000.
"We'll pay whatever it takes to get our son home," Mr. James told A Current Affair. "We work hard, and we'll be remortgaging the house and things like that, but it's not something that Mel and I really care about at this stage." The news visibly moved A Current Affair host Ally Langdon, who became tearful on air, stating, "You shouldn't have to remortgage your house to bring your boy home."
While the family has travel insurance, the unique nature of the situation has left them in a difficult position. They have already incurred significant costs for daily expenses and medical consultations.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help the family cover the immense costs, with over $147,000 raised to date. Organizers described the trip as a dream come true for Ryan, who is a huge Mickey Mouse fan, and highlighted the family's desire to have him home safely. Mr. and Ms. James remain in Tokyo with Ryan, while their other two children have returned to New South Wales with their grandmother.