My name is Tamara. I am 32 years old and from Slovakia. I have always been a very active person. I love the gym, yoga, hiking, anything that keeps me connected with nature. I also enjoy art, like painting denim jackets, canvas, or making bracelets. Staying creative and active is a big part of who I am.
A few weeks ago, I woke up early in the morning, got ready for the gym, and took my new bicycle to ride into town from where my boyfriend and I live in Pai, Thailand. I took the Pai highway because it is fast and downhill into town.
As I was going downhill at high speed, my hat flew off. My reflex was to grab the front brake, even though I know it is the one thing you never do on a downhill. The bike threw me forward. The bicycle ended on one side, and I landed hard on the other. The pain in my elbow was immediate, and I knew something was wrong. For the first eight days I tried to convince myself I didn’t need surgery because I simply couldn’t afford it, especially since I didn’t have travel insurance.
My CT scan shows one bone fractured and pushed down, and another bone broken and pushed back. Without surgery, the bones will not return to the correct place.
The surgery costs 250-300,000THB (around €6,000–€7,000).
I have already paid €1,000 for scans and hospital care, and I paid the first part of the surgery fee. The hospital allows four payments, but I cannot afford the remaining amount. After surgery, I will also need physiotherapy and medication to recover fully.
I worked the whole summer in Mallorca to save money for this trip. That savings is now almost gone due to medical bills. I am paying everything alone because I did not have travel insurance when the accident happened. I’m doing everything I can, but I simply cannot cover the remaining payments.
Without the surgery, I will live with chronic pain and I won’t be able to fully straighten my arm. The bone will stay displaced, and I would be limited for the rest of my life. I’m only 32. I want to stay active and healthy as I grow older. This operation gives me the chance to recover fully and return to the life I love.
I am reaching out with hope that kind and generous people may help me. I never imagined being in a situation where I would need to ask for support, but life has brought me here. Anything helps, and even small contributions make a real difference. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.