Chaw is a 13-year-old girl from the Mogok town of Mandalay Division, Burma. She lives with both of her parents, and her father works as a miner. Both Chaw and her brother are currently attending school.
When Chaw was born, her family noticed that her right arm and leg were much weaker than her left side. Whenever she tried to walk, her right leg’s muscles would tense up and prevent her from walking properly. She frequently has to walk on her tiptoes as her right foot cannot sit flat on the floor and her ankle mobility is limited.
Chaw connected with our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), at a local clinic and was diagnosed with a congenital foot deformity. This malformation will require an Achilles tendon lengthening procedure. The goal of this procedure is to stretch a tight Achilles tendon to allow increased motion at the ankle joint.
As Chaw’s father’s work is inconsistent and depends heavily on the season, his income alone is not enough to cover the surgery. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to help Chaw walk properly again. Her procedure is scheduled for June 27.