Meet Tin, a 59-year-old wife and mother from Burma who raises cows, chickens, and pigs and plants vegetables near her house.
Tin came to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP) with an ovarian mass. “Six months ago, Tin noticed her first symptoms,” explains BBP. “At that time, she thought she had a stomachache.”
Since then, Tin's abdominal pain has persisted, and she has begun to lose weight and feel nauseous whenever she eats. “Currently, Tin experiences pain in her abdomen and back, so she finds it difficult to walk,” says BBP. “She also experiences body pain and headaches, and sometime she gets tired and has difficulty breathing.”
The combined income from Tin, her husband, and their adult daughter is enough to cover the family’s daily expenses, but they do not earn enough money to save, and they must borrow funds for health care. Tin’s five married children live in the same village and provide financial help whenever they can.
The recommended treatment for Tin is an oophorectomy to remove the affected ovary. $1,500 covers the cost of the surgery as well as a seven-day hospital stay and one outpatient appointment post-surgery. After surgery, “Tin will not be in constant pain and will be able to work again and care for her family,” shares BBP.
“I want to be well so that I can work for my family, save money, and have a happy family,” says Tin.