Thein is a 41-year-old Burmese man. He lives with his wife, and together they have two children. He has been unable to work for the past two years. His family is now entirely reliant on his sister and brother-in-law’s income. His sister works as a grocer, while her husband works as a motorcycle taxi driver.
Thein was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Currently, Thein experiences severe fatigue and heart palpitations. He cannot walk long distances. He usually has difficulty sleeping at night, constantly worrying about how he cannot afford to pay for surgery.
Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Thein. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 21 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably.
“I have two children and a wife who I can’t support but I really want to,” explains Thein solemnly. “My sister only has a small shop but is trying to support everyone, so I feel very bad that I can’t help out.”