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Success! Sai from Burma raised $1,500 to fund a procedure to heal his heart defect.

Sai
100%
  • $1,500 raised, $0 to go
$1,500
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Sai's treatment was fully funded on August 29, 2022.

Photo of Sai post-operation

December 19, 2022

Sai underwent a procedure to heal his heart defect.

Sai’s surgery was a success! Before he received treatment, Sai experienced fatigue when he was active or walked long distances. His family was really worried about him. Since he received treatment, he now feels like he is healthy again! He no longer experiences tiredness when he walks or even when he cleans. His family was overjoyed to hear about his treatment, and they can’t wait to see him when he returns home soon. In the future, Sai said he will continue to help his parents with their family shop, just as he used to.

Sai shared: “Thank you very much for helping me. I could never receive this treatment if you had not helped me. I believe that I will be able to help my father with laborious tasks after I have made a full recovery.”

Sai’s surgery was a success! Before he received treatment, Sai experienced fatigue when he was active or walked long distances. His family w...

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July 12, 2022

Sai lives with his parents and sister in a village in Karen State in the border region of Burma where there is currently a lot of violence and instability. His sister is a teacher, while both he and his parents run a shop from their home, selling various items such as snacks, drinks, dry goods, and cement. In his free time, he loves to play cane ball with his friends.

In early November 2021, Sai received treatment for COVID-19. While getting treatment, doctors also discovered that he was born with a hole in his heart, and he was diagnosed with atrial septal defect. A doctor in Yangon confirmed his diagnosis and told him that he needs surgery. He recommended he go to Thailand as the only other option was to receive surgery at a military hospital in Burma, which have been impacted in the recent humanitarian crisis.

Sai’s aunt suggested he seek treatment at a clinic in Thailand and he was referred to our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) for financial support to make his care possible. Now, Sai is raising $1,500 for his Atrial Septal Defect Closure procedure, which is scheduled for July 12th.

Sai said, “I would like to receive surgery as soon as possible so that I can help my parents like before. Now, my father has to do all the hard and heavy work, which is not good for him as he is getting old.”

Sai lives with his parents and sister in a village in Karen State in the border region of Burma where there is currently a lot of violence a...

Read more

Sai's Timeline

  • July 12, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Sai was submitted by Bridgitte Agocs at Burma Children Medical Fund.

  • July 12, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Sai received treatment at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital in Thailand. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • July 12, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Sai's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • August 29, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Sai's treatment was fully funded.

  • December 19, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Sai's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Treatment
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Closure
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $7,623 for Sai's treatment
Subsidies fund $6,123 and Watsi raises the remaining $1,500
Hospital Fees
$1,096
Medical Staff
$651
Medication
$188
Supplies
$4,994
Travel
$235
Labs
$84
Radiology
$289
Other
$86
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients may experience excessive sweating, extreme tiredness and fatigue, irregular heartbeat, rapid breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain, cyanosis (a blue tinge to the skin), clubbed fingernails, lightheadedness, or loss of consciousness.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Patients cannot do labor work—even doing household chores may tire them. Adults will be unable to care for their families, and children will be unable to play or attend school. As the condition progresses, patients may become unable to eat.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Burma has a long queue of congenital cardiac patients who need surgery. With only four fully trained cardiac surgeons in Burma, children with congenital heart defects may have extreme difficulty accessing treatment.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Doctors may combine catheter and surgical procedures to repair complex congenital heart defects. If the defect cannot be fixed with a catheter, the patient will undergo an open heart surgery to close holes in the heart.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

This surgery saves lives. Children will return to school, and adults will return to working and caring for their families.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Potential side effects include bleeding, infection, fever, swelling, inflammation, arrhythmias, damage to surrounding organs, stroke, and death. Heart surgery is more likely to be life-threatening for patients who are very sick before the surgery.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Many of our medical partner's patients live in remote areas. They cannot afford or access treatment because it is only available in large cities.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no alternatives. If left untreated, this heart condition will become life-threatening for patients.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.