Siberian tourists return to Russian after birth of their first child while on honeymoon in Thailand

Vazgen and Kristina Shirvanian from Severobaykalsk in the Siberian Buddhist republic of Buryatia had gone to Phuket for a two-week honeymoon.

Kristina was seven months pregnant, but she gave birth on the Thai vacation island to a premature baby weighing just 700 grams.

Thai doctors saved the child, named Nonna.

She was too small and vulnerable to fly home, so the couple had to stay in Thailand for another four months. 

Then two doctors in Russia read about the family’s plight to help them get home.

Alexey Mostovoi, an anaesthetist and resuscitator from Kaluga Regional Clinical Hospital, offered to fly to Phuket free of charge and help the family bring their daughter home, caring for her on the long flight back.

He flew out on his mercy mission with a fellow media Dr Anna Karpova.

‘Thanks again to the Thai doctors,’ said the proud father. ‘If it was not for them, it’s even scary to imagine where we would be now.'

By then baby Nonna had reached the weight of 2kg and was permitted to fly. 

They set off on the 11 hour flight to Moscow, but it was far from easy. 

‘The entire flight our daughter was connected to an apparatus monitoring  her heartbeat and level of oxygen in the blood,’ explained Vazgen.

There was an emergency five hours into the flight when the medics had to ask the crew for oxygen, but Nonna’s condition soon stabilised. 

After landing in Moscow, the family went to Dr Mostovoi’s hospital in Kaluga, ahead of their return to Buryatia. 

‘Thanks again to the Thai doctors,’ said the proud father.

‘If it was not for them, it’s even scary to imagine where we would be now. 

‘The clinic staff treated us very well. 

‘When we left, I brought them cakes, and we took pictures together.’

Soon the family will fly home to show their little wonder to their grandparents in Severobaykalsk.