Khaing is a 27-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband and a three-year-old son in a village in Mae Ramat District, Tak Province. Originally from Karen State, Burma, they moved to their current address three years ago in search of better job opportunities. Her husband is a day laborer and she is homemaker.
Ten years ago, Khaing felt like her nose was blocked and that she could not breathe well. She also had a runny nose and saw a small mass in her nostril while looking at her reflection in the mirror. She did not go to see a doctor because she could not afford to pay for treatment. She also thought that she would feel better over time. However, four years ago she noticed that the mass had increased in size. She went to her local hospital in Karen State, Burma, where the doctor confirmed she has a mass in her nostril and gave her medication for a week. She did not go back to her follow-up appointment as she had run out of money. She then tried to treat herself with traditional medicine. However, this was unsuccessful as the mass continued to increase in size.
In the beginning of May 2020, Khaing developed a severe headache and pain in her nose. The area around her nose also become swollen. She went to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) on May 15, 2020 for treatment. The medic at MTC checked her nose with a flashlight and told her that she has a large mass in both of her nasal passages. She was then taken to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for further investigation. At MSH, she received an x-ray of her nose and the doctor told her that the masses are large and that they were infected. Khaing was told that she would need surgery to remove the masses as soon as possible. Before the surgery however, she would need to undergo a computerized tomography (CT) scan to confirm the diagnosis. Unable to pay for her CT scan nor her surgery, she went back to MTC to ask for help. The medic at MTC then referred Khaing to Burma Children Medical Fund for assistance accessing further treatment.
Currently, the area around her nose is swollen and painful. She also feels like her nostrils are itchy. Her nose is blocked and has to breathe through her mouth. Although she still has a headache, the pain is now less severe because she received painkillers from the doctor at MSH.
Doctors want Khaing to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan.
Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Khaing’s CT scan and care, scheduled for August 21st.
Khaing said, “I am depressed and I feel stressed about my condition. In the future, I want to work and support my parents. I also want my son to receive an education.”
