25/07/2026
Birdy is five years old. She was born in Bangkok, she goes to preschool here, and right now she is fighting one of the toughest battles a child can face.
The Thaiger was contacted about her story by a former teacher of Birdy's and a long-time reader, who asked us to help raise awareness within Thailand and the wider expat community.
According to the family, Birdy, whose full name is Roberta, has stage 4 neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. She has been treated in a Bangkok children's hospital, with her parents, Carlee and Luke, by her side throughout. Her mother has taught in Thailand for several years, which is part of why the family's life, and Birdy's care, is rooted here in the kingdom.
Now the family is racing against a deadline.
On 31 July, Birdy's medical insurance is due to be cancelled, following changes in her mother's employment that were outside the family's control.
The timing could hardly be worse. Although Birdy has recently been discharged from hospital, she still faces scans, radiation and surgery in the weeks ahead, treatment that could now be left uninsured.
Moving her care to another country is not a simple option. Earlier in her treatment, the family made the decision to carry out stem cell harvesting and ongoing care in Bangkok, which means her treatment is now tied to Thailand.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Birdy's grandmother to help cover the costs of the care ahead. For a family already living through every parent's worst nightmare, the fear of losing coverage in the middle of treatment is a heavy thing to carry.
If you would like to help, or simply to share Birdy's story so it reaches the right people in time, the fundraiser is linked in comment.
Every share helps. Sometimes it is the person three steps removed, a friend of a friend, who turns out to be exactly the help a family needs.
