Nong Ann is the youngest of two siblings of Master Wichai Witthayu and Mrs. Nicha Panapitak. Both are Karen and live in Ko Sadeng Village, Village No. 3, Lai Wo Subdistrict, Sangkhla Buri District, Kanchanaburi Province (which is in the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary). They work as farmers and general laborers. The village is quite far from civilization. Transportation is inconvenient. During the rainy season, it is about 15 kilometers to reach Village No. 2, Kong Mong Village, Lai Wo Subdistrict, Sangkhla Buri District, Kanchanaburi Province. Then, you have to change vehicles or rely on cars from neighbors in the village to travel to Sangkhla Buri District for another 15 kilometers. During the dry season, you can travel by village vehicles or vehicles that pass directly through the village, but you have to cross Huai Nam Lokhi about 13 times. The village does not have electricity, but fortunately, we use solar panels supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology. For communication, the village has two telephone numbers: Number 1 is at the assistant village headman’s house. The second number is at Ban Kong Muang Tha Hospital, Ban Ko Sadet branch, but during the rainy season, there is no communication because there is no solar power.

When Nong Ann was about 4 years old, in January 2015, she got sick with fever very often, got tired easily, had palpitations, and had chest pain. Her father carried her across the mountain through Ban Kong Mong Tha to receive treatment at Sangkhlaburi Hospital. When the doctor examined her, he found that her heart beat was abnormal and suspected that she had heart disease. Therefore, he sent her for further treatment at Phahol Phol Phayuhasena Hospital. The doctor found that Nong Ann had congenital heart disease with atrial septal defect and recommended surgery. However, he did not perform any treatment, but he kept monitoring her condition because he had to wait for Nong Ann to reach the right weight and age for surgery. Every time she came to receive treatment at Phahol Phol Phayuhasena Hospital, her father had to walk and let Nong ride on his back to get to the bus in Sangkhlaburi District because she would get tired after walking a long distance.

Nong Ann received help from Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Foundation. Her aunt contacted the foundation to request heart surgery in Bangkok. The doctor at Phaholyothin Hospital scheduled a physical examination for about 2 times, and then she was transferred for surgery at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital on June 18, 2015. After the surgery, Nong Ann’s condition improved and she was less tired. Nong Ann’s father said that he was glad that his daughter had the surgery and would recover from her serious illness. He would like to thank the foundation and donors who helped pay for Nong Ann’s surgery on this occasion.