We are Mel, Niki, and Terry - Rory's three siblings. We are hoping to raise funds to help pay for our brother's heart surgeries in Thailand.

On the 13th of December 2023, our brave younger brother underwent a daunting full open heart surgery in Chiang Mai, Thailand for an aortic aneurysm and the valve defect exacerbating it. We learned of this condition when he was donating blood, just 2 weeks before his 21st birthday (on Dad’s 60th birthday), shattering our worlds. For him, this meant giving up sports and gym - two things that he loves - and facing the imminent need for an equally dangerous and lifesaving surgery in limbo for years.

Happily, in the waiting room 6 hours later, Dad was told it was a great success and that Rory had a strong heart that quickly restarted and kicked back into normal rhythm. His recovery and rehabilitation went well and he was soon released to remain an out-patient in Thailand with both parents until cleared for travel. All seemed to be going well apart from the intense pain he was in. On January 5th he went for his second checkup and was readmitted for sepsis. Again he responded well and was released back into out-patient monitoring. Later that month he received his fit-to-fly and with that a huge milestone towards getting his full life back. He began making plans to continue to Australia which were soon foiled.

On February 21st, we got a call from Rory, he was going into heart failure. Emergency surgery was necessary to prevent any further damage to the heart and to save his life. The shock and fear as anyone can imagine was devastating…still in the shadow of the first one, and now having to endure another hugely invasive surgery on his own. Early on the 23rd he went in for the procedure for a second time in as many months. Many terrifying hours later we thankfully got the message from a friend that he was through the surgery - he had made it! The surgery was much longer than the last one, and it was a terrifying wait for this news. We got Mom back to him ASAP - at least flying with the knowledge that he was still alive.

The recovery this time has been brutal, the procedure was far more complex and the valve repair had to be done twice in the surgery due to the damage from the tear - thought to be related to infection. His lungs were a concern, and his body was still physically tired from the first surgery and recovery. His heart still has a ways to go to get back to fully functioning, but we are hopeful and expectant of a full recovery for our brave brother. One surgery of this nature is difficult enough to endure physically, emotionally, and financially. To endure a second one is beyond daunting, and of course financially debilitating at any time - never mind only 2-3 months after the first one.

There have been many calls and messages of shock and support, and the incredibly moving desire to help out in any way possible. Our family is growing around the world and we wanted to share our brave brother’s story to widen his (and our) support network and open the plea for hopes of financial support. This will help alleviate the weight of the financial side of this grueling experience hanging over us, and him, for years, and support a swift recovery.

We are looking to raise US$50,000 to try and cover the second procedure and hospital stay (with a longer ICU stay) and if possible put some towards the loan for the first procedure (which has all been self-funded). If there is any excess, we’d like to offer it to Rory as he restarts his life after bravely facing such an ordeal not just once, but twice, and showing us all what we are all made of. Any little bit helps and of course, your words, wishes, and support are deeply felt and appreciated. Thank you everyone from the bottom of our soon-to-be all fully functioning hearts!