One family’s fight to save their premature baby’s life a battle that landed them with more than $1 million in medical costs has catapulted into a major fundraising gala to assist other families in need.The $1,000-a-plate ticket for the Diamonds & Caviar Gala will help raise money for a new charitable foundation, Syncairly Yours, which hopes to become an umbrella group that provides assistance to uninsured parents of premature babies, particularly those born with major medical problems, in a manner similar to the help provided by the LCCA.They also intend to set up a support system for parents facing life and death situations presented by the births of child born well before term.The founder, Molessia Joynes, was inspired by the survival story of her grandson, Syncair Smith, who is now 13 months old.He was born on November 26, 2010, at just 25 weeks and weighed only one pound.Syncair was born with a host of medical problems, including a hole in his heart that has now healed, but his mother was uninsured at the time of his birth and is now faced with medical bills in excess of $1 million.Ms Joynes told The Royal Gazette her daughter and grandson were airlifted out of Bermuda to Ottawa General Hospital in Canada while his mother was still in labour.“We had 24 hours to move,” she said “because doctors here were able to stop the contractions when they realised the situation at hand.“He was flown out while my daughter was in labour, they stopped it because they realised they couldn’t facilitate a 23-week pregnancy.“Once in Canada, they told us they couldn’t guarantee that he would be a functional baby because of how small he was.“Once he was born we were told of fears that his bones would not be strong enough to sustain him and so they put him on high proteins.“They tried to get him off the ventilator so he could breathe on his own, and that took about three months.”The child’s father, Jay’jua Tucker, is a self-employed barber who works at Quality Cutz in Joell’s Alley, in Hamilton.He is now in the process of trying to get local barbers to come together as a group in pursuit of a group insurance plan for self-employed barbers. His biggest concern to date is the fact that his son still has no medical insurance.He told The Royal Gazette: “As Syncair’s father it has been a stressful situation from the time his mother was air ambulanced out of Bermuda.“It was my faith that got me through his four month hospitalisation in Ottawa, Canada. I was not able to see him physically after a mutual decision for me to remain in Bermuda and work to help support the financial side of this tragedy.”Now he spends his time cutting hair at the homes of his clients in the evening and full time during the day at Quality Cutz.“The only insurance I can afford as an individual not in a group insurance plan is HIP, and therefore I am not able to afford proper insurance for my son as a self-employed individual.”Vice President of the foundation and event coordinator Lisa Kemper said: “I just feel very strongly that no one should have to suffer this and certainly not alone.”A long-time personal friend of Mrs Joynes, Ms Kemper added: “We will not mention the staggering costs that no ordinary family can afford Molessia’s family has incurred and still have to surmount over a million dollars in medical costs. I pray these costs will be eradicated.“This just adds to the devastation and trauma that people are facing with medical costs even with insurance.”For her it has been an uplifting experience, she said: “Seeing Syncair at one pound on life support, almost hidden in the palm of your hand to now at 13 months, a robust baby boy, just baffles my mind.“Molessia first being my friend and also knowing her children when they were all five years and younger I admire Molessia’s strength, spirituality and tenacity.“We have been friends for over 25 years. She is a courageous and a very determined woman, whom against all odds rises out of the ashes and becomes the victor.”She added: “If Syncair’s mother was not air ambulanced out of Bermuda we strongly believe that Syncair would not have survived.“We were told that the hospital here did not have the facilities to take care of his emergency medical needs.“Fortunately Molessia was able to find the resources to air ambulance her daughter and grandson out on such short notice, thus they are here with us today.”But not all premature babies make it out of Bermuda for emergency specialised care and members of the foundation say have heard from one parent who said she gave birth prematurely, but didn’t have the money needed for an air ambulance and during her desperate struggle to raise the funds her baby passed away.Ms Kemper said: “We have a strong team and expect great things. We will succeed in filling this gap in the healthcare system in Bermuda and worldwide.“We already have a team set up in the United States just as powerful. We are stunned by the support; it can only be a power higher than us.“I like to call him God, but whatever you name the maker of miracles, it is exceedingly astonishing.”The foundation has planned a star-studded event to be held at the Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort & Spa on January 14.Ms Kemper noted: “We have spoken with the Minister of Health Zane DeSilva and the Permanent Secretary, Kevin Monkman, and we were well received.“Zane DeSilva has personally purchased tickets for this Gala. The premature babies issue hit close to home for him, and now we are waiting to see what he and his colleagues will do to assist.“But the Government cannot do it all and that is where people with a vision come in to fill the gaps.”Mr DeSilva confirmed he has met with the group and said: “As you know, anyone who wishes to assist with health awareness/education in Bermuda has my support.“It looks as though the group is off to a flying start and my hope is for their future success.”The Department of Tourism is also assisting as the group which has lined up a star-studded list of guests.Included in the line-up of guests are Dr Lisa Masterson, co-host of the award winning television talk show ‘The Doctors, Wendy Raquel Robinson on ‘The Game’ on BET, CNN’s Heroes’ executive Holly Robinson Peete, ‘The Heart Specialist’s’ Brian White and Kate Gosselin from Kate Plus 8.Mr Tucker said ticket sales were moving at a brisk pace, and for those not able to attend there has been a big surge in donations.“At this juncture, I am extremely grateful to Syncair’s grandmother Molessia Joynes who has sacrificed her own financial obligations to support Syncair.“I am amazed by her tenaciousness to bring the vision of Syncairly Yours into fruition,” said Mr Tucker.“This foundation has manifested into a reality,” he said. “I remember knocking on Molessia’s door one day, when all odds were against us with Syncair fighting for his life and creditors were banging down her door to retrieve payments for her own personal bills.“I remember looking at her upset, but I smile now because everything she said she was going to do from the outset, from setting up the foundation, establishing our new website www.syncairlyyours.com.“I believe the entire world will embrace her vision. And for that I am so grateful, and I truly believe the Syncairly Yours Foundation will ultimately fill the gaps in healthcare systems worldwide.”The good news is today, Syncair is a vibrant 13-month-old baby who functions at the level comparable to a ten-month-old child.Ms Joynes said: “He is prone to catch a lot of bad colds, but apart from that he is just fine.”For more information on the upcoming gala e-mail dcgala[AT]syncairlyyours.com.