Yangon Orthopaedic Hospital

Ma Ni is a 30-year-old woman from Burma. In her free time, she likes to pray to Buddha. She and her husband work as government officers. Together they earn 414,000 kyat (approx. $414 USD) per month, which is not enough for any safety net after they pay their bills for utilities and other household expenses. One day in July 2019, Ma Ni stood up from her desk at work and had pain in her hip joints. She had to push her hand against her hips to help her walk. She did not think there was anything seriously wrong so she did not seek medical attention. However, two weeks after this incident, when she was going to work, she slipped and fell in front of her house. Right away her hips started to hurt and two weeks later, the pain gradually became severe. Her condition worsened day by day, although she visited several hospitals and had taken medications. Currently, Ma Ni has a lot of pain in her hips. She cannot walk for more than two minutes or the pain becomes unbearable. She does not feel comfortable when she lays down and has problems sleeping from the pain. She also needs help going to the bathroom and taking a shower. Fortunately, Ma Ni learned about Watsi's medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). At BCMF's care center, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Ma Ni of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for December 17th, and Ma Ni needs help raising $1,500 to pay for this procedure. Ma Ni said, "I had to send my son to my mother’s place in Mawlamyine and my husband also had to ask for leave. [When fully recovered] I want to take back my son from my mother and send him to school. I will support him in whatever he wants to become when he grows up.”

Linn is a 30-year-old man from Burma. In May 2017, he fell down the stairs at his house and hurt his right leg. Since then, his leg became very painful. A doctor diagnosed him with bone tuberculosis, and he was on medication for 18 months. However, his condition did not improve, so he went to another hospital, where he was diagnosed with a hip problem that needs a surgical intervention. Currently, Linn cannot walk for more than five minutes. He also experiences pain. Fortunately, Linn learned about our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). At BCMF's care center, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Linn of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for September 11, and Linn needs help raising $1,500 to pay for this procedure. He says, “I wish I can walk again with no pain in the future. I am very grateful that I will receive help for my surgery.”

Tha is a 34-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, who is an agricultural day laborer, and their two young children. In recent years, Tha has developed pain in her hips. With the help of our medical partner, she underwent a hip replacement surgery on her one of her hips, and she now has to receive surgery on her other hip. At BCMF's care center, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Tha of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for April 5, and Tha needs help raising $1,500 to pay for this procedure. "I am very happy to receive surgery for my other hip," said Tha. "Without your help, I would not be able to afford the cost of the surgery."

U Aung is a 42-year-old father and husband from Burma. He lives with his wife and three children. Starting in 2016, U Aung has experienced worsening pain in both his hips. Although he received surgery on one of his hips, he still needs to undergo surgery on his other hip. Fortunately, U Aung learned about our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). At BCMF's care center, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve U Aung of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for April 5, and U Aung needs help raising $1,500 to pay for this procedure. "Since I received the first surgery I feel like I have won the lottery," said U Aung. "Once I receive this surgery, I would like to have my own shop selling vegetables and raise pigs to help support my family."

U Aung is 41 years old. He lives with his wife and three children in Burma. He works as a day laborer loading rice packages. In early 2016, U Aung started to experience discomfort and some pain in his groin whilst loading the rice packages. He finds it difficult to bend his knees. A month ago, he visited a hospital, where he was diagnosed with avascular necrosis of the hip. The doctor explained that he would need surgery but U Aung could not afford it. Fortunately, U Aung found out about our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). He was told he would need hip replacement surgery. Our medical partner, BCMF, is requesting $1,500 to fund U Aung’s surgery, scheduled for October 12.

Tha is a 33-year-old woman from Burma with avascular necrosis, the death of bone tissue, in both of her hips. With her condition, Tha has been unable to work and care for her children. Her husband is an agricultural day laborer, and in addition to working full-time, he now also has to care for their children since Tha is unable to. When Tha first noticed symptoms of her condition in 2016, she did not think anything of it and attempted to treat it with skin balm and oils given to her by a traditional healer. The pain got progressively worse, and Tha eventually visited a clinic near her village. She was given an injection to alleviate her painful symptoms as well as oral medication. This allowed her to continue living her normal routine until she ran out of medication. In early 2017, Tha’s pain worsened to the point where she could not walk. On September 7, Tha will undergo hip replacement surgery through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). To help fund her treatment, BCMF requests $1,500. Tha says, "On top of my physical symptoms, I am extremely upset that I can no longer care for my children the way I could in the past. In the future, I hope that my condition will be treated effectively and that I can find a job, support my family, and return to my normal life."

Myint is a 26-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and his parents and brothers. Her in-laws work as vegetable farmers. Myint has a bachelor's degree in economics, and she enjoys reading books. In September 2015, serious flooding forced Myint and her family to rent a two-story house from a neighbor. Dampened by rain, the wooden planks of the house had become fragile. Myint accidentally stepped on a broken plank and fell two stories, fracturing her hip. Without funds to pay for healthcare, Myint has been unable to treat her fracture, She spends most of her time in bed, as it is painful for her to do physical activity. In November 2016, Myint visited a clinic, where she was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). On February 9, Myint will undergo hip replacement surgery at our medical partner's care center, Yangon Orthopaedic Hospital. BCMF is asking for $1,500 to fund her surgery, medical supplies, medication, and physician's fees. After surgery, Myint looks forward to helping her in-laws with the farming, visiting her mother, and pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher.