Bon is a Laotian who suffered from a congenital heart disease. When he cried, he became even more cyanotic. His mother said that Bon was born at a hospital in Laos. He had been cyanotic since birth, with his fingernails and toenails cyanotic. However, the doctor did not say anything, so she thought that he was probably dark. When he returned home, Bon became even more cyanotic. He would have to stop every now and then when he cried or sucked milk because he was tired. Then one day, a Thai person who crossed the border to visit a temple in Laos said that Bon had symptoms similar to those of a person with heart disease and suggested that he come to Thailand for a checkup. On February 9, 2015, his mother took him across the border to Nakhon Phanom Hospital for a checkup. On the day of the checkup, the doctor had to keep him in the hospital because his body was very cyanotic. However, since Nakhon Phanom Hospital did not have the equipment to perform the checkup, they sent him by ambulance to Sakon Nakhon Hospital for an echocardiogram. The examination revealed that Bon had a cyanotic congenital heart disease. The doctor recommended an emergency surgery. The doctor at Nakhon Phanom Hospital contacted Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Foundation for help because the parents did not have the money to bring the child for the surgery themselves. The parents are farmers. However, since the child is Laotian, it took time to process the documents to send the child for the heart surgery in Bangkok. Therefore, the surgery could not be done that day.

Finally, Bon underwent surgery with the help of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Foundation on Tuesday, February 24, 2015. After the surgery, the child’s condition gradually improved. The cyanosis was clearly gone. He was cheerful, lively, and ate more. It is hoped that Bon will be able to grow up and live like other normal children.