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Saw Kyaw is a 25-year-old worker from Thailand who needs $1,500 to fund fracture repair surgery to heal his fractured leg.

Saw Kyaw
66%
  • $1,003 raised, $497 to go
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December 6, 2022

Saw Kyaw is a 25-year-old man living in Thailand. He currently lives with his older sister, younger sister, mother and her niece. He moved from Burma to Thailand for job opportunities three years ago. He was working in a shop and was able to support two younger siblings who are studying in Karen State in Burma.

Around the end of July, he was playing football with friends when he slipped trying to kick the ball. His lower right leg was very painful, but he was still able to bear weight lightly on that leg. At the time, Saw Kyaw didn’t have health insurance, so he went to a clinic instead of the hospital. There they examined his leg, gave him some medication for the pain and advised him to go to the hospital for an X-ray if the pain persisted. Saw Kyaw rested for two days and then went back to work.

That day at work, Saw Kyaw was carrying a heavy load when he slipped again. This time, the pain was severe, and he was unable to stand on his right leg. He went to a hospital in Bangkok where they X-rayed his lower right leg and told him that the tibia was fractured. The doctor recommended surgery where they would use a metal rod to connect the bones and set them in the correct position to heal. Saw Kyaw was told that the surgery would cost between 40,000 to 50,000 baht (approx. 1,330- 1,660 USD). He told them that he did not have insurance and was unable to afford the surgery, so they gave him pain medication and bandaged up his leg.

He returned to the hospital three times and each time the doctor recommended surgery, but Kyaw was unable to figure out how he could get that kind of money. His employer was not helpful and refused to assist with the cost of the surgery. Since Saw Kyaw didn’t have the money, he decided to just rest and see whether the bones would heal on their own. Saw Kyaw recalled that he had fractured his femur when he was young, and he had used a traditional medicated oil to help heal the injury. He hoped that he could use this on his new fracture. But now he cannot walk properly and cannot work since his accident. He is stressed about his condition and his future.

With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Saw Kyaw will finally undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for December 7th and will cost $1,500. He will able to go back to work after surgery

Saw Kyaw said, “I would like to go back to Bangkok and find work again so I can go back to helping my family; my siblings who are studying in Burma, and also my mother who is getting older. I also want to save some money for my future. I will not work at the same place though as they have not been kind or caring since I had the accident.”

Saw Kyaw is a 25-year-old man living in Thailand. He currently lives with his older sister, younger sister, mother and her niece. He moved f...

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Saw Kyaw's Timeline

  • December 6, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Saw Kyaw was submitted by Bue Wah Say, Project Officer at Burma Children Medical Fund.

  • December 7, 2022
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Saw Kyaw was scheduled to receive treatment at Mae Sot General 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.

  • December 9, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Saw Kyaw's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING FUNDING

    Saw Kyaw is currently raising funds for his treatment.

  • TBD
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Saw Kyaw's treatment update from Burma Children Medical Fund.

Treatment
ORIF
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

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

The patient has broken bones and experiences pain and swelling.

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

The patient will experience decreased mobility. He or she will not be able to do normal daily activities.

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

Many people in remote areas try to fix broken legs and arms by themselves. They also visit spiritual healers or traditional massagers. Sometimes, broken bones heal in incorrect positions.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

After a series of x-rays, the doctor decides to perform fracture repair surgery.

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

Healing takes time. When the bones have completely healed, patients will resume their normal activities without pain or swelling.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Potential side effects include allergic response, infection, malignancy, and osteoporosis.

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

Many of our medical partner's patients live in remote areas. They cannot afford or access treatment because it is only available in large cities.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no alternatives. If the broken bones are not fixed, the patient will spend his or her life in pain. Decreased mobility will cause the patient to require help from others.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.