NRL players rally behind Jesse Ramien and fiancee in raising over $50k in funds to bring baby home from Bali

Parents, fans, teammates and other NRL stars have rallied behind Jesse Ramien and his fiancee in their mission to get their six-week premature baby back to Australia from Bali, with their story triggering over $50k in donations.

A power list of NRL stars have joined the overseas mission by helping raise over $50,000 to bring the six-week premature baby of Jesse Ramien home safely from a Bali hospital to Australia.

The story that has stirred the emotions of the general public, including parents, fans and teammates has triggered more than 630 donations with Ramien and fiancee’ Shell also being aided by the help of the Cronulla Sharks and the NRL.

In a major development, the efforts of the Sharks and NRL to work overtime with the Australian Embassy in Indonesia to fastrack paperwork has proven promising with the documentation crucial for baby Teo to be transported back to Australia.

Ramien and Shell remain desperate to coordinate a care flight for their medically-induced baby boy Teo back to Australia at an estimated cost of $130,000.

Shavaun Hunt - the wife of Sharks forward Royce Hunt - organised a GoFundMe fundraising campaign, which has prompted the rugby league community to respond, far beyond Ramien’s Cronulla team.

Among the list of NRL players to make a donation are AJ Brimson, Keaon Koloamatangi, Isaiah Tass, Sitili Tupouniua, Jack Hetherington, Jacob Saifiti, Taane Milne and Hame Sele.

AJ Brimson was among the donators. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Sharks teammate Nicho Hynes also got on board. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Sharks players have also donated including Nicho Hynes, Siosifa Talakai, Briton Nikora, Jack Williams, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Blayke Brailey Billy Burns and Hunt.

Former NRL stars Luke Lewis, Andrew Fifita and Denan Kemp have also made a financial pledge.

Despite not being personally responsible for creating the Go Fund Me page, some fans have questioned why the well-paid Sharks star would require financial assistance.

Despite the massive costs to bring their baby home, Ramien made it clear where he stood as a concerned father.

Cronulla star Jesse Ramien and his son Teo.

“I’ll play for nothing just to get our baby boy home safely,’’ he said.

As first revealed by News Corp, Teo needed to be resuscitated for five minutes after being born six weeks premature at a Bali hospital last Friday night.

Shell was 33-weeks pregnant and before leaving Sydney for Cronulla player Briton Nikora’s wedding, the couple secured clearance from Shell’s Obstetrician, as well as clearance from the airline and travel insurance cover for her pregnancy.

The ordeal unfolded when Shell went into early labour last Friday and needed to undergo an emergency C-section.

During this time, Shell had to be put under anaesthesia, with doctors then needing to revive their newborn son for five minutes until he started breathing, when he was born just after 11pm.

Support from the community for baby Teo has been strong. Picture: Instagram

He was immediately rushed to NICU, where he remains under close watch with the new parents unable to see their boy until 9am the following morning.

“That was so worrying being in another hospital in another country,” Ramien said.

“I wasn’t allowed into the room to be with Shell. It was difficult, especially for Shell.”

The harrowing experience has led to a distraught Ramien contacting the Australian Embassy in Indonesia in a desperate attempt to source a care flight for their medically-induced baby boy Teo back to Australia at an estimated cost of $130,000.

Both Shell and Ramien are yet to hold their newborn for fear of infection and have been left to view him in his incubator during two two-hour visiting slots during the morning and afternoon at the Siloam Hospital in Bali.

Cronulla Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta and the NRL spent Thursday working closely with Australian consulate officials to fast track the process.

Originally published as NRL players rally behind Jesse Ramien and fiancee in raising over $50k in funds to bring baby home from Bali