Hello, my name is Ethan. During my travels to North Sumatra in August 2025, I had the privilege of staying at the Sumatra Thomas Leaf Monkey Guesthouse, run by Brian and Sarah.

But when I visited, Brian wasn’t able to join our jungle trek. Instead, he needed to care for his newborn son, Shaizan, who was born with a cleft palate. While Brian and Sarah are overjoyed to be parents, baby Shaizan urgently needs surgery. Because he cannot fully close his mouth, eating is difficult, and his lungs are at risk from dust and infection.

Baby Shaizan needs four surgeries, each costing about 66,000,000 Indonesian Rupiah (around $4,000 USD), which is an enormous sum for an Indonesian family. With tourism slowing down during the rainy season, their income has dropped drastically, making it nearly impossible for them to afford this care on their own.

From the moment I arrived in Bukit Lawang, Brian’s kindness and passion for people and wildlife shone through. He is one of the most generous, genuine souls I’ve ever met. We spent hours talking about life, the jungle, and his incredible journey.

Before starting his guesthouse, Brian worked for an animal conservation organization, often at great personal risk. He once told me about a time when he had a gun held to his head by a policeman after rescuing animals that were being mistreated. Despite the danger, his commitment to protecting Sumatra’s wildlife only grew stronger.

Eventually, Brian built his own guesthouse from the ground up in the jungle village of Bukit Lawang, training a team of local guides and cooks to bring tourists to see the beauty of the jungle. While many guesthouses in the area are owned by wealthy foreigners, Brian’s stands out because it’s truly rooted in love for the jungle and his community.

Although Brian regularly relocates king cobras from people's homes occasionally encounters Tigers deep in the jungle, his greatest concern is now simply to ensure his baby's long-term health.

Even a small donation goes a long way. In Indonesia, $10 can feel like $100. I hope that this GoFundMe can help provide some assistance to Brian and Sarah in this stressful time in their life. Thank you for your generosity.

Tax Logistics:

GoFundMe does not allow withdrawing funds to an Indonesian bank account. So I will withdraw the funds to my US bank account, then wire the money directly to Brian. According to PMK No. 90/PMK.03/2020, the grants are exempt from income tax if they are to "an individual who runs a micro and small business ... having a net worth of at most Rp. 500,000,000." Also, grants are exempt from income tax if they are to "non-profit organizations whose main activities are to .. care for children with disabilities." I will ensure Brian and I document everything so that he is not unnecessarily taxed on this fundraiser.

Charities:

Brian is also looking into charities which can help pay for the surgeries. However, they have long waitlists and are not guaranteed.

• Smile Train covers 100% of the cost, and has 3 clinics in Medan: https://www.smiletrain.org/find-help

• Yayasan Senyum Bali covers 100% of the cost but is located in Bali: https://www.senyumbali.org/medical-treatment

• The Children of Sumatra has traveling surgeons, but not much information is listed on their website: https://childrenofsumatra.org/our-work/