In another life, Thiha Lin and his wife, Ei Tinzar Hlaing, were doctors in their home country of Myanmar. But when the Tatmadaw state military overthrew the government and took over the country in 2021, everything changed.
In the wake of the military coup, the country began sinking into a humanitarian collapse, leaving nearly 80% of the population starving. Along with many doctors in the country, Lin and Hlaing did what they could to fight back against the group through civil disobedience. However, they knew this would be a losing battle.
“Instead of letting us do what we do, they wanted us to work for them or be put in prison,” Lin said.
As the situation around them worsened by the day, Hlaing and Lin felt they had no choice but to leave for America in 2023…