“Khaing is a 45-year-old woman who was referred from a clinic in Burma to our treatment centre,” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “She has two daughters and one son who are all married and live with their own families. Her husband works as an unloading worker.”
BBP tells us that Khaing began noticing abdominal problems two years ago. “She felt a mass in her abdomen when she touched it,” explains BBP. “She first went to the hospital in late 2013 to have her abdomen checked. The doctor performed an ultrasound and said she had a mass in her uterus.”
That doctor recommended she travel to another hospital for treatment, but Khaing could not afford it. As it has gone untreated, the mass has been getting larger and Khaing is experiencing more pain. Doctors are now recommending surgery.
Khaing had to stop working because of her condition, and her husband now only makes minimal income to support them both. It is not enough to cover the costs of treatment.
With our support of $1500, Khaing will receive a hysterectomy to remove the mass. She will spend one to two days recovering at the hospital followed by four to six weeks recovering at home.
Doctors anticipate that after the surgery, Khaing won’t experience any more pain. She will be able to get back to her family at home.
Khaing is ambitious, and is eager to get back to work. “I want to build my own small shop at home and sell some snacks to generate income to be able to help my husband,” she shares with us.