Chit Sandar was born at the Hpa-an General Hospital in Burma. At six months old she became sick with a fever. Her mother took her to the doctor where she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a life-threatening condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain.
Burma has one of the most under-funded healthcare systems in the world, with little government assistance. The Burmese government spends approximately $37 per person per year on healthcare in contrast to, for example, the US which spends $9,146. Chit Sandar’s mother could not afford to pay for her surgery, which meant they had to return home from the doctor without receiving care.
After they returned home, Chit Sandar’s condition continued to worsen. The circumference of her head expanded as a result of the fluid buildup in her brain and she started experiencing loss of consciousness, sunken eyes, and sometimes she would lose control of her head movements all together.
Chit Sandar needs a ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement, which will drain the fluid from the brain and cure her hydrocephalus. $1,485 will cover the cost of Chit Sandar’s surgery which will be provided at the Chiang Mai Hospital in Thailand.
Chit Sandar’s mother wants her daughter to survive surgery, receive a good education, and grow up to support a family of her own.