The damage from natural disasters is far-reaching. They alter plans, destroy homes, separate families, and in some cases, affect a person’s ability to receive the health care they need. That has been the case for an American man who moved his family from Georgia, to Bangkok, Thailand, for a job.
When Joshua Fekete, his wife, and their two children left the US, he had a clean bill of health. But in Thailand, things took a turn for the worse. On Friday, March 28, 2025, medical personnel rushed the 36-year-old to a hospital. He’s remained there since then, unable to leave without first paying $16,000.
Joshua has several health issues.
Joshua’s mother Sylvia Johnson told WSBTV that her son now has a list of health issues. “He had clogged arteries, a heart attack, and developed sepsis, then they said he had an infection in his appendix,” Johnson said. As a result, Fekete has had to undergo multiple surgeries. He was awaiting another emergency procedure when a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar, the effects were felt in neighboring Thailand.
Johnson said patients in the hospital where Fekete is staying were moved, still in their beds, to the parking lot in what she described as a “frightening” situation. Amid so much uncertainty, there’s the additional challenge of international communication.
The earthquake has disturbed internet signals, making it difficult for family in the US to get in touch with Fekete. They can’t travel to Thailand because there are flight restrictions in place. “We want to get him back home because at this point, he’s not well enough to be away,” Johnson said.
The family requires money for immediate and future needs.
In response to all of this, Fekete’s mother has launched a GoFundMe to help the family return to Georgia. “He has had to undergo multiple surgeries. The family needs finances immediately for food, housing, transportation, etc.,” she explained. At the time of publication, the fundraiser has garnered $5,875 of their $23,000 goal. They’ll need almost three times that to get Fekete home safely.
The earthquake caused thousands of deaths.
Feteke’s American health insurance company is willing to cover the cost of his surgeries, but the Thailand hospital is requiring $16,000 for Fekete to be discharged. At this point, Johnson believes her son’s location is serving as a hindrance in his healing.
“We want to get him back home because at this point, he’s not well enough to be away,” Johnson said. The earthquake has caused more than 3,000 deaths in Myanmar, according to the Associated Press. In Bangkok, it caused the collapse of a building under construction, killing 22 people and injuring 34 others.
