SHE'S "amazing Gracee'' to her parents and family. But little Gracee Broom is becoming better known as "the million-dollar baby''.

Her unexpected February 12 arrival at 24 1/2 weeks, while her parents were on the "honeymoon they never had'' in the US, has left the Brisbane family facing massive medical bills that could cost more than $1 million.

The tiny girl is now at the centre of an international wrangle between parents Brett and Sonja Broom, their insurance agency and the Australian Federal Government.

Insurance giant AAMI is refusing to pay Mrs Broom's medical bills because they say she had a "pre-existing condition'' pregnancy.

Mr Broom said AAMI told them that Gracee was not covered by their policy because she did not exist at the time of cover. AAMI did not return calls yesterday.

But even if well enough to travel, Gracee will not be allowed home until she has a visa, which could take months.



Because she was born in the US, she is not an Australian citizen. The ordeal has torn the family apart.

Husband Brett, a painter, has had to return home to Brisbane's southside and look after their two sons Jack, 3, and William, 22 months.

The boys were being cared for by their grandparents while their parents were overseas.

Mrs Broom has had to stay in Orlando to be with her daughter at the Florida Hospital for Children. She has now been separated from her sons for almost two months.

But because of Gracee's fragile condition, it is unlikely Mrs Broom will be able to return to Australia with their new daughter until at least July.

The Sunday Mail spoke to Mrs Broom via Skype while she was cuddling Gracee in hospital.

"It's been really hard,'' she said. "I feel so lonely because there is no one here to turn to.

"But the good news is she (Gracee) is doing really well. She's a fighter.''

The tiny little girl weighed 765g when born and has doubled her weight to 1.59kg at 32 weeks.

The Brooms had flown into Los Angeles from Brisbane and were on a three-day cruise when Mrs Broom became unwell.

"I just started feeling lots of aches and pains and had a temperature and said I had to go back to the cabin,'' she said.

Hours later her waters broke and soon she began having contractions.

The ship was already on its way back to Cape Canaveral and Mrs Broom managed to hold on until they reached the mainland and she was taken to hospital.

Both her boys had been full-term pregnancies and she had been given clearance by a doctor to travel.

The bill for Mrs Broom's three days of care at the hospital was $30,000. The couple have paid $10,000 towards this as a sign of good faith.

Gracee's care is about $5000 a day - not including doctors' and specialists' fees.

Gracee's bill has already reached $300,000 and she is expected to be in hospital for a further 60-80 days.

Mr Broom has been in touch with Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs for assistance.

"They said they would contact Sonja in Florida but we are still waiting to hear.''
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