Hi, my name is Ryan, and I’m raising funds for my friend, Michael Batten.

Michael lives and works in Chiang Mai, where he has been a dedicated History teacher at Varee International School for the past six years. He is also a passionate sportsman: coaching the school’s basketball team, playing regularly himself, and spending his free time on the football field.

Last week, after experiencing what he believed was a severe migraine, Michael went to Chiangmai Ram Hospital. There, he received the shocking diagnosis of an ischemic stroke and required immediate emergency brain surgery.

The surgery was life-saving, and thankfully, Michael has come through it with minimal immediate side effects. However, he has sustained brain damage, and part of his skull had to be removed during the procedure. Doctors have confirmed that his motor skills have been affected, meaning he will need to adjust to a different way of living as he recovers.

At just 36 years old, this kind of stroke is extremely rare. Despite numerous tests, doctors are still working to determine its cause, and further investigations are ongoing.

Michael is now being discharged from the hospital, but while he does have medical insurance, it does not cover the full cost of his treatment. He is responsible for the remaining 20% of the hospital bill, along with the ongoing costs of further tests and rehabilitation. This shortfall, combined with his upcoming recovery needs, amounts to £8,000 (roughly 350,000 THB).

We are raising funds to help cover:

Any contribution, no matter the size, will help ease the financial burden and allow Michael to focus fully on his recovery.

If you are unable to donate, sharing this page with your network would mean just as much.

Thank you for your support.

A Note on Transparency: Although Michael and I both live and work in Thailand, this fundraiser is set up in the UK. To ensure the funds are processed securely while Michael focuses on his recovery, a trusted family member in the UK will be assigned as the beneficiary. They will withdraw the donations into a UK bank account and transfer the funds directly to cover Michael's medical expenses here in Chiang Mai.