Sixteen-year-old Aroonrak Jattanathammajit was on her way to visit an old folks’ home when she was hit by a car in Balestier. 

Right now, she’s fighting for her life at KK Women’s and Children’s hospital, with doctors saying that her chances of survival are fifty-fifty. Aroonrak’s parents, who rushed straight to her side from their home in the Trang Province in southern Thailand, are facing a $70,000 hospital bill so far — a precarious situation, especially since the family is deep in debt. 

The New Paper reported that the San Yu Adventist School student left her hostel on the early morning of Sept 18 to buy milk powder for residents of an old folks’ home. She met with a serious accident when she was crossing the road to get to a bus stop. 

Fellow Thai student and roommate Kotchamon Techathanakitlert was alerted to the accident shortly after and informed her mother, who in turn informed Aroonrak’s parents. 

Since the accident, her parents have not left her bedside — only leaving shortly to use the common shower facility at the hospital. The teenager has already gone through two brain surgeries, and has come out of her coma. 

“I wanted her to be better off”

While doctors have provided the best care for her, the issue for Aroonrak’s parents now lie in the mounting medical bills. Their daughter spent 10 days in the Intensive Care Unit and a day in the High Dependency Ward before being moved to a normal ward. 

Aroonrak’s father — Sarayuth Jattanathammajit — claims to be $80,000 in debt as he wanted the “best education” for his daughter. Despite struggling to sustain his rubber retail business in Thailand, he continues to pay close to $50,000 annually in expenses for his daughter. 

“I just wanted her to have the best education possible. I wanted her to be better off,” he said to The New Paper. 

#helpAroonrak

Moved by the tragic story, a Singaporean man by the name of Dennis Yeo has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Give Asia to help pay off Aroonrak’s medical bills. So far, it’s been garnering amazing responses, with over $64,000 raised as of writing. 

Having already visited the parents yesterday at the hospital, Yeo confirms that the first batch of funds will be dispatched by Give Asia as soon as next week. KK Hospital has also agreed to the arrangement of using the crowdfunded donations to offset Aroonrak’s bills. 

“The parents had been overwhelm with all the support pouring in, and though I do not understand Thai language, but I can see from their expression that they are very touched by the care and love everyone of us had been giving, and hoping Aroonrak will recover soon,” Yeo wrote. 

The crowdfunding campaign will be kept open until Oct 16, so get clicking if you too want to help the family through their difficult time.