After Ja Nongpanee Mahatthai the spicy country singer, announced the sad news that her father, Pradit Mahatthai, has passed away following a severe accident and over two months of hospitalization. Recently, Ja opened up to the press during her father's funeral rites held at house number 83, Sa-wang Ha subdistrict, Sa-wang Ha district, Ang Thong province.
Ja revealed the cause of her father's death: "Dad passed at 07:55. But the doctors actually told us on April 4 that he wouldn't survive beyond two weeks and we should prepare ourselves. Dad’s brain was dead because he underwent two skull surgeries and two brain surgeries, but his brain was completely dead. Once the brain is dead and no longer controls the organs, his condition gradually deteriorated. Dad also had stage 3 kidney failure, which worsened his condition as his kidneys couldn’t remove toxins."
The doctors asked if we wanted to do dialysis. If dialysis helped improve Dad’s condition, they would need to operate on his abdomen because he had an intestinal infection too. We asked the doctor if dialysis would help Dad, and he said no because it wouldn't affect the brain—the brain was already dead. Even if the kidneys improved, other functions kept declining. So we decided not to do dialysis or prolong Dad’s life because we felt sorry for him," she said, voice trembling.
When asked if she had time to come to terms with it, Ja said, "Actually, from the first day all the doctors told us there was only a 1 or 5 percent chance. They kept telling us to gradually prepare ourselves. But I thought, 1 or 5 percent, we can fight on. Until April 4, the doctors said Dad’s body couldn’t handle it anymore because he couldn’t take the medication."
Asked if she consulted anyone, Ja said she mainly talked with her older sister about how to help their mother stay calm. When asked if she herself had come to terms with it, she said somewhat, but she still worried about their mother and wanted her to accept it as a natural part of life. She consulted her sister and brought their mother to stay in Bangkok, slowly explaining that birth, aging, illness, and death are natural.
Dad always taught us while he was still well. Just on January 21, he told me, 'Nong Lek, I’m going to die soon.' I was shocked and asked, 'Dad, where will you go? Do you worry about me?' He said he didn’t worry anymore because everyone dies eventually. Parents aren’t ours; we aren’t ours; even our breath isn’t ours. He always said if he died, I shouldn’t be overly sad but stay composed and not prolong the funeral because he wanted us to live life and work. Dad’s brain was dead and couldn’t send commands, but when I told him, 'Dad, thank you for giving me life, for raising me, for teaching me patience, hard work, and saving money,' he cried with tears running down both cheeks.
Caring for Dad in the hospital for nearly three months—was it painful? Ja said, "It was beyond painful. This is the most heartbreaking moment in my life. I saw Dad right after the accident; at first, he hadn't closed his eyes but there was blood everywhere. I hugged him and told him to stay calm. I was alone with him and told him I loved him. Then he slowly closed his eyes. That was the last image he saw of me. After that day, he never opened his eyes again. Over the two months, I wished he could open his eyes again, even just to see Mom and my brother Pek."
Many say Ja is a devoted daughter. How has that affected her life? Ja said, "I’ve always said I don’t want anyone to think being a good child guarantees success. Being a child is our duty. My parents raised me well, even though they were poor, they sent me to school and taught me to be a good member of society. I feel I must repay them as best I can. Dad’s teaching is why I’m an artist who greets everyone. Dad said even convoys must be greeted. No matter how famous I get, without the convoy, I wouldn’t have a stage. Everyone has their role. We must care about and love our fans a lot because our shows start at 10 p.m., and they rush from home, wait for photos after the show, so I’ve always taken photos with fans throughout my 10-year career."
Importantly, this wasn’t the first time Dad was ill. Whenever Mom or Dad got sick and wanted me to return to work, Dad always said I should work so those who hire me won’t be troubled and my fans who want to see me won’t be disappointed. Dad and Mom lived comfortably in the hospital because I worked. I’m here because of my fans. No matter how hard life gets, I sing and don’t bring my troubles on stage. Dad said it’s normal: everyone who is born will eventually die."
Asked if those who hired her during Songkran understood her situation, Ja said she normally doesn’t communicate with event organizers directly, that’s her sister’s role. But she insisted she attended every event and gave her best at each. She said she only cried on stage once, the first day after Dad’s accident at 17:03. After taking him to the first hospital around 6 p.m., then the second hospital around 8 p.m. and after his surgery, she performed a concert. That day she lost control and cried on stage, but now she’s determined not to cry on stage because she wants to give happiness and not burden anyone with her sorrow.
When asked what she said to Dad at their final farewell, Ja said, "I thanked Dad for giving me life and raising me. I’m proud of Dad’s likay (traditional Thai folk theater) career. I love Dad’s likay because it gave me the foundation to be the actress I am today. Dad, don’t worry about me. Pek, don’t worry about Mom. Mom will be fine. Dad, go ahead and wait for us. One day we’ll meet again."
Asked if that was why she chose a photo of Dad in his likay costume to place on his coffin, Ja said, "Dad loved likay very much. Mom said if anything happened to Dad, Nong Lek should use his likay photo because he liked it so much. So we decided to use that photo."
When asked about the total medical expenses, Ja said, "Nearly 10 million baht over more than two months, changing hospitals three times. We chose the best care. Dad frequently got infections; there was one medicine that had to be given for 14 days, costing 100,000 baht per day. And that was just one of four antibiotics; one alone cost 90,000 baht for 250 ml. We fought hard. The doctors said Dad’s brain wouldn’t recover, but we fought because what we did wasn’t for anyone else but for our parents. When you reach this point, if you don’t do it for your parents, it’s meaningless." She paused, crying again.
Her mother is currently in the process of coming to terms with it but has the support of relatives and children. They comfort her by saying Dad is now at peace, as he had seven illnesses and underwent many procedures. They urged her to let Dad go. The funeral was initially planned for April 16 but was changed. The rites will be held April 12-14, with cremation on April 15, as April 16 is a major Buddhist holy day. Relatives were uneasy about cremating on that day, so they settled on April 15. Regarding why the funeral is not extended to seven days, everything was according to Dad’s wishes to avoid prolonging it. They must stay composed, live life, care for Mom and everyone, and take care of themselves. The cremation ceremony will be at Ban Phet Temple on April 15 at 16:00.
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