When two mothers were in despair, their fate changed to one of joy after being introduced to Bumrungrad’s Rak Jai Thai (Healing Hearts) program.

When two mothers were in despair, their fate changed to one of joy after being introduced to Bumrungrad’s Rak Jai Thai (Healing Hearts) program. On 5^th November 2020 Bumrungrad spoke to the families of Mack and Tangmo, who received care with continued follow-up as patients through the Rak Jai Thai program, as they wished to share their stories.

In 2007, Mack from Samut Sakhon Province had undergone his first heart surgery at just eight months of age. His mother explained that he was suffering from a complex congenital heart defect with numerous complications. After he was born he would fall ill easily. There were times it seemed that he was more often in the hospital than at home. In order to pay for his medical treatments his mother considered selling their home, but then she saw an announcement on the T.V. about programs providing help for children suffering from congenital heart diseases. She immediately wrote a letter to the show, telling them about her son’s situation. Not long after, Mack was receiving the medical attention he needed at a children’s hospital. He was then referred to Bumrungrad’s Rak Jai Thai program. Mack received his first heart surgery at Bumrungrad at eight months of age and his second at 10. years of age.

Tangmo was from Surat Thani Province with a complex congenital heart defect, forcing her to remain admitted in the hospital for three months after she was born. Even after leaving the hospital, Tangmo was frequently in and out due to fatigue and low blood oxygen levels. She was in desperate need of heart surgery, but there was a two year waiting list for the surgery necessary at the public hospital.

However, on 29^th March 2013, a day her mother will never forget, she was watching the T.V. show “Phan Fhan Phan Yim” that stated they were offering help for children suffering from congenital heart diseases. After the show she and her husband decided to gather a little over 1,000 baht to buy a smartphone so she could start a Facebook account and submit her daughter’s story. She received a response asking her to bring Tangmo to Bangkok. They travelled to Bangkok on 1^st April 2013, to evaluate her suitability for the congenital heart disease program. It turned out she was a candidate and her case was submitted to Bumrungrad’s Rak Jai Thai program. In 2014, through Bumrungrad’s Rak Jai Thai, Tangmo received her first heart surgery at Bumrungrad at age six with a second surgery at age eight in 2016.

After their surgeries, both Mack and Tangmo continue to receive follow-up care at Bumrungrad. They are currently healthy and doing well, living as normal kids. The mothers of both children said that even though their kids seemed to be born to an ill fate at first, they are in fact incredibly lucky to have received and continue to receive excellent care from expert doctors and a wonderful cardiac care team.