24-year-old Hla Hla lives with her family in Burma. Her parents owned a fruit shop, but they are now retired. Her oldest sister inherited the shop and works there to support her family. Hla Hla also has an older brother and two younger sisters, who are still in school.
Hla Hla stays at home doing housework for the family. She spends her free time listening to Burmese songs. She also loves cooking.
Two months ago, Hla Hla was walking uphill when she felt her heart beating strangely. She also felt more tired than usual, so she had to walk slowly. She visited the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a heart valve problem called mitral regurgitation, which causes a reversal of blood flow inside the heart. Knowing surgery was too expensive for the family to afford, Hla Hla’s doctor referred her to our medical partner.
Hla Hla’s current symptoms include fatigue, back pain, and loss of appetite. Fortunately, she is scheduled to undergo a mitral valve replacement on January 4. She needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. After recovery, she hopes to continue doing housework at home.