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Success! Ko Myo from Burma raised $1,500 to fund kidney stones removal so he can live pain free.

Ko Myo
100%
  • $1,500 raised, $0 to go
$1,500
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Ko Myo's treatment was fully funded on April 26, 2022.

Photo of Ko Myo post-operation

May 26, 2022

Ko Myo had successful surgery to remove kidney stones.

Before Ko Myo’s surgery, he had a lot of pain which left him unable to sleep well and with little appetite. He worried constantly about his condition. After surgery, he already feels a lot better. He can now eat and sleep well, and plans to return to work when he has completed his recovery.

Ko Myo has started to dream again about what’s ahead and shared, “I am very happy that I received successful treatment. I would like to thank all the donors, BCMF staff and the staff at Htantabin Monastery for helping me. In the future, when I am fully recovered, I will work with my wife in the clothing factory. If I have a chance I want to go to Mae Sot in Thailand and work in the clothing factory there. I want to open my own shop in the market and sew children’s clothing.”

Before Ko Myo's surgery, he had a lot of pain which left him unable to sleep well and with little appetite. He worried constantly about his ...

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February 4, 2022

Ko Myo lives with his mother in a village in Burma. He used to be a motorcycle taxi driver but stopped working two months ago when his health deteriorated. His mother and wife currently care for him, washing clothes and working in a clothing factory in Yangon, earning income to support their family.

With the help of Watsi donors, Ko Myo underwent his second round of laser treatment in January 2020, at Mae Sot Hospital in Thailand, to breakup stones in his left kidney. He was scheduled to undergo a third round of laser treatment however, when the Thai-Burma border closed in March 2020 due to increasing COVID-19 cases, Ko Myo was not able to go back to the hospital.

He felt better until the first week of December 2021 when he started experiencing a lot of pain in his waist when he sat for a long time. With the border still closed and without enough money to go to a hospital, Ko Myo sought advice. He then went with our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, in Yangon to a clinic in January 2022 and was able to visit our partner’s care center, Shin Par Ku Hospital. The doctor has told him he will need surgery on his left kidney to remove the stone and has scheduled him to have the procedure on February 6th.

Currently, Ko Myo has little appetite and experiences pain in the left side of his back. He is eagerly awaiting surgery. He shared, “I pity my wife because she has to work hard and support me. Now, I am so happy that I will receive surgery soon,” he said. “One day I want to open my own shop in the market and sew children’s clothing.”

Ko Myo lives with his mother in a village in Burma. He used to be a motorcycle taxi driver but stopped working two months ago when his healt...

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Ko Myo's Timeline

  • February 4, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Ko Myo was submitted by Bridgitte Agocs at Burma Children Medical Fund.

  • February 6, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Ko Myo received treatment at Shin Par Ku Hospital in Burma. 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.

  • February 7, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Ko Myo's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • April 26, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Ko Myo's treatment was fully funded.

  • May 26, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Ko Myo's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 36 donors

Treatment
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $1,541 for Ko Myo's treatment
Subsidies fund $41 and Watsi raises the remaining $1,500
Hospital Fees
$368
Medical Staff
$620
Medication
$6
Supplies
$275
Travel
$105
Labs
$68
Radiology
$67
Other
$32
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

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

The symptoms include severe pain in the groin and/or side, blood and/or pus in the urine, vomiting and nausea, and other urinary symptoms. Some patients experience back pain, a persistent urge to urinate, fever and chills if there is an infection.

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

Because of the lower back pain, patients cannot sleep or eat well. They feel discomfort because of frequent urination. They are unable to work because of frequent fevers, chills, and pain. Often their family members have to take time away from work to care for them which affects their livelihoods and financial situation.

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

Many patients cannot afford to go to a hospital and instead try to treat themselves with traditional medicine, which is not effective and can even worsen the patient's condition.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

The patient will receive a urine test and an ultrasound first. If their diagnosis is confirmed, they will receive a date for surgery. A scope is inserted through a small incision in the back to remove the kidney stones. The patient usually spends 4-5 days in the hospital.

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

The patient will no longer experience back pain or a burning sensation. They will be able to sleep and eat well. The family can return to working and generating income.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

The most common side effects are bleeding, infection, injuries to the kidney or other organs and incomplete stone removal.

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

Many patients live in remote areas and cannot access treatment because it is only available in larger cities.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Alternative treatment options include lithotripsy to break up a large stone into smaller pieces, surgical removal of the kidney stones, and the removal a kidney if there are multiple stones in the kidney. If none of the procedures are done, patients will continue to live with a kidney stone which will cause them to be in pain and ultimately can lead to kidney failure.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Chanthoeun

Chanthoeun is a 57-year-old rice farmer. She is a widow and lives in Kampong Cham province with her youngest daughter. She has a total of four daughters and nine precious grandchildren. She spends her days outside on the farm and caring for her grandchildren while her daughter sells soft drinks. She likes to watch Khmer dramas on TV in the evening. Twelve years ago, Chanthoeun developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her Irritation and redness. Lately, it has been much worse and she has difficulty seeing. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Chanthoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. Chanthoeun needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent a recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for February 7th. Chanthoeun said, "I hope after surgery my eye irritation will go away, and no redness. I want to help my daughter to take care of my grandchildren, go outside to help with the rice, and do housework well"

0% funded

0%funded
$0raised
$225to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.