Htet is a 17-month-old baby boy from Burma. He lives with his mother and father in Karen State where his father is a taxi driver while his mother is a home maker. His parent’s combined income is often not enough to cover their daily expenses, so sometimes they borrow money from their relatives.
Htet underwent a colostomy, a procedure that creates an opening in the colon that lets stools pass from the body without going through the regular way. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but is usually temporary and may need a reversal. In Htet’s case, his colostomy requires reversal in order to restore bowel function and prevent future complications.
Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of a reverse colostomy for Htet. The surgery is scheduled to take place on September 9th and once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently.
Htet’s mother said, “Your help means a lot to our family. We have been struggling to afford food, and it is hard to save any money. Fewer people are coming to Myawaddy now, so my husband has fewer taxi customers, which means we earn less income. If there are words that mean more than thank you, I would tell them many times.”