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Success! Kyaw from Burma raised $760 to fund a procedure to drain an abscess on his right foot.

Kyaw
100%
  • $760 raised, $0 to go
$760
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Kyaw's treatment was fully funded on January 14, 2023.

Photo of Kyaw post-operation

March 29, 2023

Kyaw underwent a procedure to drain an abscess on his right foot.

Kyaw’s surgery was a success! Before undergoing treatment, Kyaw experienced a lot of pain and was unable to sleep, bear weight on his leg, or move around easily without assistance. After his surgery, Kyaw is feeling much better and can now sleep without pain. He can also care for himself independently again.

Kyaw said: “My wife takes good care of me, so I didn’t need to do anything at home. If I recover fully, I will help my wife sell mohinga [Burmese noodles] from our home in the future. Thank you very much to all of the donors for the successful treatment.”

Kyaw's surgery was a success! Before undergoing treatment, Kyaw experienced a lot of pain and was unable to sleep, bear weight on his leg, o...

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October 13, 2022

Kyaw is a 80-year-old man who lives with his wife and his sister-in-law in Mon State, Burma. Kyaw and his wife are retired, while his sister-in-law is paralyzed. They are supported by Kyaw’s brother-in-law, who is a monk, and his niece, who owns a small food shop. In his free time, Kyaw likes to meditate while using prayer beads and he enjoys going to the temple. He also likes to listen to old Burmese songs and the news.

During the first week of October, Kyaw began to experience severe pain in the sole of his right foot and now he cannot put any weight on that foot. He has to use a stick when he walks, and his wife has to support him.

Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Kyaw receive treatment to heal his condition and help him walk again. On October 13th, he is scheduled to undergo a procedure to drain the abscess. This procedure will cost $760, and he and his family need help raising money.

His wife said, “Thank you to the donors and the organisation (BCMF) for paying for my husband’s surgery.”

Kyaw is a 80-year-old man who lives with his wife and his sister-in-law in Mon State, Burma. Kyaw and his wife are retired, while his sister...

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Kyaw's Timeline

  • October 13, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Kyaw was submitted by Bridgitte Agocs at Burma Children Medical Fund.

  • October 13, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Kyaw received treatment at Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital in Burma. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • October 16, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Kyaw's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • January 14, 2023
    FULLY FUNDED

    Kyaw's treatment was fully funded.

  • March 29, 2023
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Kyaw's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 9 donors

Funded by 9 donors

Treatment
Incision and Drainage
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $760 for Kyaw's treatment
Hospital Fees
$303
Medical Staff
$82
Medication
$126
Supplies
$188
Travel
$30
Labs
$5
Radiology
$0
Other
$26
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

The patient may experience swelling. The affected area may be warm to the touch and may be red. There will be a visible build-up of white or yellow pus under the skin in the affected area and the patient will have a high temperature.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

The impact of the patients' lives will depend on the location and the size of the affected area. Patients with large abscesses may experience discomfort, pain and tenderness in the affected area. Failure to treat the large ulcer or large abscess at an early stage may cause complications and result in some life-threatening conditions, including cellulitis and joint infections. Untreated ulcers and abscesses in limbs may lead to amputation of affected limbs.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Many people in Burma especially in the remote areas cannot afford medical treatment at hospitals and clinics. They will usually depend on traditional medicine which is affordable or grown in their own garden. In most cases, traditional medicine does not treat infections. By the time people seek medical treatment at a hospital or clinic, infections are usually severe and have become ulcers or abscesses. Because of the severity of their infection, the cost of their treatment will be high and they will require longer and more aggressive treatment.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Firstly, the doctor will clean the surface of the abscess and surrounding skin with povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine solution and drape the area around the abscess with a sterile towels. The doctor will perform a field block by injecting local anesthetic around and under the tissue surrounding abscess. The doctor will then make a linear incision with a surgical blade into the abscess and allow the abscess to drain. The doctor will then gently probe the abscess to break up loculation before manually attempting to express remaining pus from the abscess. Finally the doctor will insert packing material into the abscess and dress the wound with sterile gauze and tape.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

Performing an incision and drainage will reduce the swelling around the affected area after the pus is drained. The pain will be lessen and will improve the ability of ulcer or the abscess healing properly. The patient will be less likely to develop complications such as cellulitis.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Possible side effects or risks can include pain during and after the procedure due to inadequate anesthesia. Rarely, bleeding, reoccurrence of abscess formation, septic thrombophlebitis, necrotizing fasciitis, damage to nerves and vessels and scarring are also possible.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Since most of our partner care centers' patients come from remote areas of Burma, the treatment is not easily accessible. It is only available in cities and towns. Most patients from remote areas cannot afford to pay for the high cost of surgery.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no alternative treatment. Untreated abscesses may slowly reabsorb over time or may rupture spontaneously. While some ruptured abscesses may heal, in other the infection can spread or return.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Angela

Angela is a 32-year-old woman from Kenya. She is a single mother to four children between the ages of 4 and 13 years old. Her husband left to marry another woman, and Angela works hard to provide for her children. She was fetching firewood to sell to hotels and homes but became too ill to carry out this work. She also worked in a hotel as a cleaner, but the income was insufficient for their needs. Now, after taking her children to school, Angela stays in the area to carry water and wash clothes for residents. She also receives some financial support from her family. Angela shared that life has been challenging, but she is thankful to be alive and raising support for her treatment needs. Angela first met our medical partner's surgical team during a medical camp they hosted in her hometown a few months ago. During that visit, she was diagnosed with a non-toxic multinodular goiter. Angela’s symptoms began a few years back, including experiencing swelling on her neck and difficulty eating, swallowing, and breathing. She cannot sleep at night and becomes fatigued quickly. Angela needs to undergo surgery to heal and prevent her symptoms from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Angela receive treatment. On March 16th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMH’s care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $936 to fund Angela’s surgery. Angela said: “Life is so hard, and sometimes I want to give up, but when I remember my children, I encourage myself to keep going only for their sake. When I get treated, I can work hard and provide for them without difficulty. Kindly help me.”

10% funded

10%funded
$100raised
$836to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.