An American gay couple are stranded in an unknown location in Thailand, as surrogate mother is preventing child from obtaining a passport since finding out the family was “not normal”.

Gordon Lake and his husband Manuel, along with their two children, are currently stuck in Thailand and embroiled in a legal battle.

Through the agency New Life, the parents found a Thai surrogate to carry their child. Initially, the surrogate signed release forms allowing the child to be taken from the hospital by Lake and his husband, but ten days later she wanted to take Carmen back.

The surrogate – but biologically unrelated – mother of baby Carmen then refused to sign documents allowing the child to obtain a passport.

Lake told The Guardian, “[The surrogate] said she thought she was doing this for an ‘ordinary family’ and when she found out that it wasn’t an ordinary family she was worried for Carmen’s wellbeing.”

“I was flabbergasted, in a complete state of shock. It’s your worst nightmare in a process like this. I didn’t believe it,” he said.

“We sent messages back. Hoping there was some sort of miscommunication. We were terrified.”

Currently the family of four are unable to leave the country, and remain in an undisclosed location in Thailand. They have started the #BringCarmenHome campaign in the hopes of raising much needed funds for legal expenses.

“Our finances are extremely strained. For now, with our salaries and with help from our families, we can cover the basic living expenses in Thailand. But our savings are gone, we  have already borrowed money from friends and family and we have maxed out our credit cards and personal lines of credit, and we need help covering legal expenses.”

Lake has crowdfunded $24,000 already for a trial that could last months. Currently he is working remotely online, and is trying to bring up both children in Thailand until the issue is resolved and they can return back to the United States.

To donate, visit their crowdfunding page.

#BringCarmenHome from Carmen Santos on Vimeo.