Htee is a 5th grader from Burma who needs $1,500 to fund an appendectomy.

Meet Htee

Htee's story

April 20, 2026

Htee is a 10-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her family in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. Htee and her two siblings were born and raised in the camp. Her parents met and married there after relocating in 2006 due to conflicts between armed groups in their village. Htee’s mother is a homemaker, while her father works as a day laborer. She is currently enrolled in the camp school and is in Grade 5. Additionally, Htee’s four cousins live with the family and also attend school. In her free time, Htee enjoys playing with her brother and friends.

For two days, Htee has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including severe pain at right lower part of abdominal, high fever, vomiting and lethargy. She is currently admitted at Mae Sariang Hospital, where she was diagnosed with appendicitis. She needs urgent surgery to prevent her condition from getting worse.

Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Htee receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected, on April 20th, at Mae Sariang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Htee and her family need your support.

Htee’s father said, “My daughter is an active child. She loves to go to school and never missed attendance. Now she is in severe pain, and I hope that she gets better after treatment.”

Htee is a 10-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her family in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. Htee and her two sibl...

April 20, 2026
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Htee was submitted by Bue Wah Say, Project Officer at Burma Children Medical Fund
April 20, 2026
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Htee was scheduled to receive treatment at Mae Sariang Hospital in Thailand. 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.
April 21, 2026
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Htee's profile was published to start raising funds.
TODAY
AWAITING FUNDING
Htee is currently raising funds for her treatment.
TBD
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Htee's treatment update from Burma Children Medical Fund is in progress.

63%

$948 raised, $552 to go

Funded by 18 donors

$948

raised

$552

to go

Htee's story

April 20, 2026

Htee’s father said, “My daughter is an active child. She loves to go to school and never missed attendance. Now she is in severe pain, and I hope that she gets better after treatment.”

Htee is a 10-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her family in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. Htee and her two sibl...

April 20, 2026
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Htee was submitted by Bue Wah Say, Project Officer at Burma Children Medical Fund
April 20, 2026
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Htee was scheduled to receive treatment at Mae Sariang Hospital in Thailand. 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.
April 21, 2026
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Htee's profile was published to start raising funds.
TODAY
AWAITING FUNDING
Htee is currently raising funds for her treatment.
TBD
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Htee's treatment update from Burma Children Medical Fund is in progress.

Funded by 18 donors

Treatment

Appendectomy

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $2,731 for Htee's treatment

For this patient, Watsi raises $1,500 and other contributions cover any remaining cost

Hospital Fees

$1,641

Medical Staff

$561

Medication

Supplies

$273

Labs

$83

Radiology

$33

Other

$140

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

The symptoms of appendicitis include pain in the upper abdomen or around the navel. In addition to this, patients will commonly have a distended abdomen, pain in the lower right side of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, a lack of appetite, constipation, or diarrhea.

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

The patients’ quality of life will be low. They will experience a sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen or around the navel, that will become increasingly severe. They will be uncomfortable due to a slight fever, constipation, diarrhea or indigestion. They will be unable to work, go to school or do any other chores or activities. Most importantly, untreated appendicitis can lead to a ruptured appendix and/or an abscess which are both life threatening. An untreated abscess can spread and damage other organs, while a ruptured appendix can spread bacteria which may lead to a serious infection.

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

Often times, patients tend to seek medical attention when their symptoms have become severe or when they have exhausted all local and affordable options. Further adding to this, is that many patients are just treated for their symptoms and are not diagnosed properly. In Thailand, undocumented migrant patients will sometimes put off going to the hospital due to a fear of being arrested by the police. Meanwhile in Burma, appendectomy surgery is only available in larger towns and cities, which is difficult and expensive for patients residing in remote areas and villages to access.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

At first, the patient will receive general anesthesia. During the surgery, a surgeon makes one incision in the lower right side of the abdomen. The appendix is removed and the wound is closed with stiches. This procedure also allows the doctor to clean the abdominal cavity if the appendix has burst.

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

After the procedure, the patient will no longer experience abdominal pain, nor nausea or vomiting. The patient's appetite will return and they will be able to resume their daily tasks.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

The potential risks of undergoing an appendectomy include bleeding, wound infection, injury to nearby organs and a blocked bowel. However, these post operative complications are rare.

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

Surgery is only available in a hospital in larger cities in Thailand, which is expensive and unaffordable for most migrants and refugees in Thailand. In Thailand, only Thai citizens have access to a public healthcare system, and all non-citizens must pay full treatment costs. At the same time, in Burma most patients live in remote areas, where subsistence and semi-subsistence lifestyles are still common. Although some patients, especially in towns, earn an income, they do not earn enough to cover the cost of their treatment. Many patients turn to acquaintances for help navigating the healthcare system in Burma and Thailand. Once they arrive at a clinic or local hospital, they are referred to a larger hospital, before being referred to BCMF for financial support of their treatment.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

The alternative treatments that exist for appendicitis is to drain the abscess with a needle or during surgery followed by a course of antibiotics. Additionally a less invasive procedure to remove the appendix involves a laparoscopic appendectomy if the appendix has not yet burst. However, at Mae Sariang Hospital, most patients undergo an open appendectomy.

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Sha is a 56-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, two daughters, and two sons in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Sha and one of his sons are day laborers in a village near the camp. His wife and one of his daughters are homemakers, while his other daughter is a teacher in the camp. His other son is still a student in the camp. The family has a vegetable garden around their home, and they raise chickens and pigs to sell and for their own consumption. Their combined monthly income of 5,000 THB is often not enough to cover their daily needs. They currently have a loan of 3,000 THB, money borrowed due to Sha's illness. A few days ago, Sha began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain with the pain radiating to his back and a fever. He has been diagnosed with appendicitis, and now needs surgery to prevent his condition from worsening. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Sha receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected, on May 14th at Mae Sariang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Sha and his family need your support. Sha says, “I never experienced pain like this before. When the pain is very severe, I can’t breathe easily. I would like for this pain to stop.”

Evelyn is a 10-year-old smart and friendly young girl who lives in Quibdó, Colombia with her family. Her joy and curiosity shine through every day at school, where she interacts with her classmates with enthusiasm and warmth. When she grows up, Evelyn wishes to become a great veterinarian. Since birth, Evelyn has had an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. The condition has been causing her discomfort and tenderness in the navel area, especially when performing activities like jumping, playing and enjoying her childhood. Surgery has been recommended to correct the hernia, and prevent possible future complications. Fortunately, Evelyn is scheduled for repair surgery on August 20th. Our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is requesting $1,005 to fund Evelyn's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live a healthier life. Evelyn’s mother says, "I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your support in my daughter’s surgery. Your generosity, solidarity, and big hearts are a true beacon of hope during this very important time for our family. Thanks to your help, we will be one step closer to giving my daughter the opportunity to receive the treatment she needs. We will never forget this noble gesture. May God bless you abundantly, grant you health, peace, and prosperity, and multiply all the good you have sown in our lives. With all our love, respect, and eternal gratitude."