Ko Ko is a 20-year-old man from Burma who lives in Thailand with his mother and aunt. He works as a day laborer in a car workshop, but he has a hard time completing his work since he was involved in a motorcycle accident in April 2015.
At the time of the accident, Ko Ko was looking for work and did not have any money. Most of his right side of the body was broken, and the muscles were torn. He went to a hospital two days later, and doctors told him that he would need surgery for the majority of his right side, including his arm, shoulder, and leg. To pay for the surgery, Ko Ko’s mother was forced to sell many of her possessions, including her house in Burma and all of her jewelry. The family also had to borrow money to cover their daily expenses.
The driver of the car into which Ko Ko crashed insisted on being compensated for damages. Since Ko Ko had no money, he was not able to pay the driver and was taken to court and given a six-month jail sentence. Before going to jail, Ko Ko was able to complete his medical follow-ups. However, on the ride home from his last appointment, he was in another car accident that was much worse than the first. He broke the same leg, which left his foot hanging and his muscles torn. He had no money for any other treatments and was forced to enter jail with a broken leg.
While in jail, Ko Ko was able to bring his crutches with him, but he found them difficult to use on the slippery tile floors. On multiple occasions, he slipped and landed on his broken leg, causing further trouble and more pain. He received no help or treatment for his leg while he was in jail. He wrapped his leg himself, making a homemade splint to keep the bones in place.
After his release from jail, Ko Ko learned about assistance from Watsi’s medical partner, Burma Border Projects, and he was referred to Burma Children Medical Fund for surgery. Due to the repeated injuries to Ko Ko’s leg and the delay in treatment, surgeons are unable to repair the leg and recommend amputation. $1500 covers the cost of the surgery as well as travel to and from the hospital, inpatient pre- and post-operative care, and follow-up appointments.
Ko Ko grew up learning about medical procedures from his grandfather, who was a medical assistant. He has long enjoyed studying medical treatments and procedures and surfing the internet to learn about plants and botany. “With the knowledge from my study, I knew how to care for my leg when I was in prison,” Ko Ko shares. “I hope to be able to work in the field of anatomy one day.”
