Ma Nyein is a 42-year-old woman from Myawaddy, a small town near the Thai border of southeastern Burma. She lives with her parents, her 18-year-old son, and her seven-year-old nephew, whose parents are working in Bangkok. Her daughter, who is living in Bangkok, sends her some money every two or three months.
In early 2016, Ma Nyein accidentally stepped on a loose plank in the floor of her house, which caused the piece of wood to swing up and hit her on the left side of her head. Soon thereafter, her left eye became swollen and she felt a numbness around that eye. There was also a piercing pain concentrated in the left side of her head. She visited several health centers, but all she received was painkillers.
Since her condition did not improve, she received surgery on her eye and head through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Surgery relieved a lot of the pain that Ma Nyein was experiencing, but doctors are suggesting that she receive another CT scan post-surgery to assess the effectiveness of this critical procedure.
Ma Nyein used to sew longyis, a traditional Burmese garment worn by men and women. Her injury has forced her to temporarily stop working. Post-operative checks like this CT scan constitute an important part of out-patient procedure, and will likely ensure that Ma Nyein can return to her former life.