Urgent: Help Marmad Break Free from Growing Hospital Debt

My name is Wahidah, and I am raising funds for a courageous and hardworking couple, Roweeson and Marmad Tharha, in the small rural town of Bang Phra in Chon Buri, Thailand. I have visited Chon Buri several times to volunteer at a dog shelter, and during these visits, I always looked forward to the best roti in town, made by Roweeson at the local night market. Roweeson is a 62-year-old Burmese/Rohingya refugee who has been selling roti for 20 years to support herself and her husband, Marmad Tharha.

A few days ago, I went to the night market to buy roti and didn't see Roweeson for five nights. When I finally saw her again, I asked where she had been. She explained her husband's condition and the struggles they were facing.

Marmad had a stroke on the night of July 6. Around 3 am that night, Roweeson woke up and realised her husband was not moving. Panicked and unable to help him herself, as she does not drive and did not know how to call an ambulance, she had to rely on the kindness of neighbours to bring Marmad to Chonburi Hospital in time. Devastatingly, the stroke has left him paralysed on his right side and unable to speak.

Marmad is currently in the ICU Stroke Unit at Chonburi Hospital, and their medical bills have reached an overwhelming 60,189.25 Baht (~2,500 AUD), increasing daily as he remains in the ICU. For refugees like Roweeson, this is an insurmountable amount. Tragically, the hospital will not discharge Marmad until their bill is paid in full, and the longer he stays, the higher the costs will climb. This paradoxical situation leaves Roweeson and Marmad in desperate need of your help.

Despite the emotional turmoil and overwhelming financial pressure, Roweeson remains resilient. She spends her days at the hospital caring for her husband and sells roti at night to cover their day-to-day expenses. To put things into perspective, the price of a piece of roti is 10 Baht (0.40 AUD), and selling roti is their only means of livelihood now. Despite her tireless efforts, the income from her roti cart is barely enough for their daily needs, let alone the mounting hospital costs. This is why Roweeson and Marmad desperately need your generosity. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in their lives. Thank you.