Myo is a 46-year-old man who lives in Burma with his wife and their seven-year-old son.
From 2001 to 2002, Myo and his wife lived in Thailand while searching for employment. In 2002, at a medical checkup required to extend his stay in Thailand, Myo learned that he has mitral valve regurgitation.
Normally, the mitral valve keeps blood flowing from the left atrium to the left ventricle. However, with mitral valve regurgitation, the valve leaks, allowing blood to flow in the opposite direction. This can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness, or swelling of the feet and ankles.
At the time of the diagnosis, Myo received two weeks’ worth of medication, but no follow-up appointments were scheduled. Myo experienced no symptoms of his heart condition until mid-2016, when he began to have difficulty breathing. He sought care at several hospitals. He received a free echocardiogram, which confirmed that he will need to undergo surgery to replace his mitral valve.
At his appointment with our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Myo spoke of the significant stress his health condition has brought him. He had to sell his motorbike to pay for medical tests and treatment.
He says, “I just want to be a strong and healthy man to be able to look after my wife and young son.”
Fortunately, Myo is scheduled to undergo mitral valve replacement surgery on April 24. He will need financial assistance to pay the $1,500 required for the operation, transportation to and from the hospital, diagnostic procedures, lab tests, and ten nights in the hospital.
