Update: Karen Medic Writes Heartfelt Letter on Recovery Journey

3 November 2025

Naw Gay, Karen medic survivor, before the attack.

Dear friends,

Thank you so much for your prayers and generous support of Naw Gay, a Karen medic who survived a firebomb attack by the Burma Air Force in March. Because of an outpouring of generosity from donors in June, she received funds needed for early rounds of treatment. Since then, she’s received further funds for various follow-up treatments. A small portion of the donations were specifically given to support her parents as well, who Naw Gay had been providing for prior to the attack.

We’re happy and grateful to report that between the fundraising efforts of several partners, including Earth Mission Asia, enough funds have been raised to cover the current estimated costs of Naw Gay’s recovery expenses. Praise God. We are very grateful to all of you. 

Naw Gay in the hospital following the bombing.

On July 16, 2025, we had the chance to visit Naw Gay at a hospital. At that time, she had already undergone multiple surgeries, and was preparing to undergo another surgery to repair her right eyelid, which was missing. On July 17, a surgeon was able to successfully retrieve enough skin from Naw Gay’s right collar bone to repair her eyelid with skin grafts. We pray that the skin grafts take well, so that Naw Gay can receive similar surgeries to repair other areas on her face in the future.

After the July surgery, Naw Gay took a break from surgeries until October 26, when she had surgery on her mouth. Although it is difficult for her to speak due to damage in her trachea, she is able to communicate through writing with one of her hands. 

In September, FBR received a handwritten letter from Naw Gay, which provided updates on her recovery and expressed her love and gratitude for the support she’s received. She included a special thanks to Matt and Tanita and their family, local friends who have helped coordinate her care and walked beside her since she was evacuated to Thailand. Naw Gay’s perseverance and courage are inspiring as she pushes through such severe injuries, and her gratitude and grace are humbling. Here is what she wrote:

“Hello my dear FBR family,

At first, God will bless you and keep going with you always, is my hope and prayer.

Dear, how are you? I hope you will be fine and happy every day. I want to talk with you face to face by mouth but I can’t talk so I write a letter to you. Dear, I thank you so much for you remember me in your prayers, encouraging speech and support me, so I thank you all. I am not your general but you love me like your real sister so I thank God he send me to you. God will be happy for what you did for me. I don’t know your name one by one but I don’t forget you did good for me.

Just now I can eat, I can walk, and I can talk slow slow. I’m so happy. Thara Matt family also care for me too much. I thank God for choose their family for me. So don’t worry about me too much, because I’m happy, I am fine. I’m so sorry for your volunteer Naw Wah Wah. She is my friend, I love her so much. I know you will love her more than me because she is your member gone. Just now Wah Wah stay with God and happy, is my hope.

Finally, God will fill full my dear FBR’s needs and want to do anything be success, is my prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.

By your sister in Christ,

Naw Gay”

The hand-written letter from Naw Gay. A small smudge of blood remains on the paper from her injured hand during writing.

After her most recent surgery, during which the doctors worked with skin grafts and small incisions to improve the movement of her mouth and left eyelid, Naw Gay was swollen and in pain. Days after this procedure, she looked tired but still full of that same inspirational resilience. When we visited her in the plastic surgery ward and asked about her hopes for the future, she spoke only of her deep desire to continue serving in the medical field, helping patients in any way she can.

We are so thankful to be able to provide this update on Naw Gay’s journey. Please join us in praying for her continued healing and hope as she is still at the beginning of what will be a long recovery journey. Please also pray for an end to the suffering inflicted by the Burma military on so many others like Naw Gay.

Thank you and God bless,

The Free Burma Rangers team.