Kyaw Swe is a 54-year-old man who lives with his wife and twin daughters in Burma. His daughters both attend school in the 8th grade, and he and his wife work on a rice farm.
Five years ago, in 2011, he was forced to leave work due to his poor health. He first sought treatment for his fever, fatigue, and shortness of breath symptoms, from a local healthcare medic who provided him with medication that had no effect. Then, in 2012, his wife also became ill, requiring the removal of a mass from her brain which cost their family a tremendous sum and placed them in great debt.
Unable to obtain further loans, Kyaw Swe had to stop seeking treatment for his own condition, which was confirmed as heart disease. He has also been busy caring for his wife, since surgery left her partly paralyzed. He cooks all meals and does all the household chores, but doing even this has become increasingly difficult.
On June 11, 2016 Kyaw Swe’s condition became critical again. He visited a general hospital which conducted an echocardiogram, which determined that he needed heart surgery. After surgery, Kyaw Swe will be able to return to work and caring for his wife in full health. He is expected to make a full recovery.
“My hope is to receive treatment so I can return to caring for my wife and 14 year old children,” he shared. “I hope for them to continue with their studies. If I recover I plan to return to work.”