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Thai surrogate mom would be happy to get twin back

By WTOP Staff

THANYARAT DOKSONE
Associated Press

SRI RACHA, Thailand (AP) — A Thai surrogate mother raising a Down syndrome baby she claims was abandoned by his Australian biological parents said Tuesday she would be happy to have the boy’s healthy twin returned to her, especially after learning the father is a convicted sex offender.

The Australian government is considering policy changes due to the case, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott described it as “a tragic human situation.”

Pattaramon Chanbua, a 21-year-old food vendor with two young children of her own, has been bringing up baby boy Gammy since he was born in December.

She claimed the parents rejected Gammy while taking his healthy twin sister home to Western Australia state. The Australian parents have not spoken publicly, though third parties disputed assertions that they heartlessly abandoned the afflicted baby.

Australia’s Nine Network television reported Tuesday that the father was a convicted pedophile. A police officer told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, because he was not authorized to speak to the media, that the father was a convicted sex offender.

“Personally, when I heard the news I was shocked but I can’t say anything much right now,” Pattaramon said at a press conference in her hometown, adding that she would “leave it to the law” to see if she can get the girl back.

Professor Jenni Millbank, a surrogacy law expert at Sydney’s University of Technology, said Pattaramon could seek custody of the daughter through the Australian courts.

“She’s a legal parent. If she turned up in the Family Court tomorrow, she could seek the return of that child, if that’s what she wanted,” Millbank told Nine Network television.

Surrogacy involves a woman carrying an implanted embryo in order to give birth, often because health issues prevent the biological mother from doing so. Legal doctrine on surrogacy is inconsistent, especially when different nationalities are involved. Countries such as India, Ukraine and Thailand have fairly lenient regulations and are popular for parents in developed countries looking for lower-cost surrogate mothers.

Pattaramon expressed sentimental attachment to the girl now in Australia, saying: “I want her back because she is my baby. She was in my womb.” However, she said she was inclined to leave the resolution of the issue up to “fate.”

“If she is happy, then I, as a mother, am also happy. I don’t want to bring her back to suffer or anything. A mother would never want her child in trouble,” she said. “But if she really cannot go on living there, then I’m very happy to have her back in my arms.”

She said she will never hand over to the Australian couple 7-month-old Gammy, who has a congenital heart condition as well as Down syndrome: “Never. Not in any way.”

The case had already caused a stir because of the allegation that the Australian couple did not take home both children.

Pattaramon has also said she did not receive the full payment she was promised through a broker for serving as a surrogate mother. The agency has declined requests for an interview from The Associated Press.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Tuesday her department was working to consider what policy response the Australian government should make.

“This tragic situation has arisen as a result of a commercial surrogacy arrangement,” Bishop told reporters. “We’re looking at it from every angle.”

But Prime Minister Tony Abbott said “there are no easy answers when it comes to government.”

“For me, the one shining light to come from this most unfortunate, deeply regrettable situation is there appears to have been an absolute outpouring of generosity toward baby Gammy and his mother.”

The Australian charity Hands Across the Water has raised more than $215,000 since July 22 to help the baby.

“That’s the one thing I would like to say redeems this otherwise terribly, terribly unfortunate situation,” Abbott said.

___

Associated Press writer Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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