Miah Soman came to Singapore in 2011 in hopes of providing a better life for his family in Bangladesh. For almost a decade, he has been working tirelessly in the shipyard industry to support his wife, two children and parents. However, things took a turn for the worse when Miah Soman was diagnosed with Rheumatic Heart Disease last year. Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever.

Ray of Hope is raising $2,750 to support Miah Soman and his family for the next 5 months ($550 x 5 months). This will help his family with their living expenses as he works towards recovery.

Miah Soman is from Bangladesh and is married with twins aged 18 months. His wife is the main caregiver to his children and parents. His elderly father is diabetic while his mother had breast cancer before. Before coming to Singapore, Miah Soman had to pay $7,000 for the agent’s fees in hopes of better job prospects here. As a worker in the shipyard industry, he was earning $1,400 monthly. He would remit the bulk of his salary to support his family’s living expenses. 

In May 2021, Miah Soman experienced chest pains, fever and cough. After multiple medical assessments, he was subsequently diagnosed with Rheumatic Heart Disease, a condition where his valve has been permanently damaged. His doctor has recommended he undergo heart surgery. However, due to the high cost of treatment, Miah Soman rejected the offer and hopes to receive treatment in Bangladesh instead. 

With no income to support his medical treatment and his family, Miah Soman is under immense stress as the family has lost their main source of income. The resilient father intends to seek treatment back in Bangladesh as he will not be able to afford institutional care in Singapore.