Kyaw is a 43-year-old man who lives in a village in Burma. Kyaw works as a motorbike taxi driver in his village. He is the sole provider for both his 17-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son.
In August 2016, he was visiting his sister’s village for a wedding during the rainy season and fell while he was walking. He twisted his ankle and hurt the toes on his right foot. At the time, he did not think that it was a serious injury and never consulted a doctor. However, the pain in his foot increased, and he finally went to a clinic near his village, where the medics practiced traditional medicine.
The medicine seemed to help his condition at first, but they proved ineffective over time. Kyaw finds it difficult to work as his condition continues to worsen. Kyaw’s foot has become red and swollen and has caused him to walk with a limp.
By February 2017, Kyaw’s two toes on his right foot had become black and ulcerated. His sister learned of his condition and insisted he seek treatment. Physicians have diagnosed him with gangrene, a condition in which body tissue dies. Gangrene can be caused by illness, injury, or infection, and it causes a loss of blood supply to surrounding tissue. If left untreated, it can spread, leading to further damage.
On April 4, Kyaw is scheduled to have his foot amputated to prevent further spreading of the disease. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund his procedure.
Though Kyaw is nervous for his procedure, he keeps his children’s well-being in mind. He says, “Even if I lose my foot, I would like to get a prosthesis and return to work. I do not like taking money from my children.”
