Sein is a 35-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her son, daughter and her husband in a village in Thaton Township, Mon State. Sein’s husband is a driver and she is a homemaker.
Four years ago, Sein experienced severe back pain with a fever. She went to the private clinic in Thaton where she received an ultrasound and was admitted for five nights. She shared that no one explained her diagnosis to her, but she received some pain medication and an intravenous line which made her feel better. Her symptoms disappeared after that, but in June 2019, her back pain returned. She also has jaundice of her eyes and the color of her urine is bright yellow. She started having a high fever and this time she felt that her back pain was very severe.
Sein went to Yangon for treatment but after she was told that she needed surgery, she could not afford to pay for it. In early January 2020, she talked with her friend who works in Mae Sot, Thailand about her problem, and her friend suggested that she come to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC). On January 6th, Sein and her husband came to MTC, where she received some medications after she was examined by the medic. The medic at MTC referred her to Watsi Medical Partner’s Care Center Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for further investigation. There she received an ultrasound as well as a blood test. After that the doctor recommended a computed tomography (CT) scan, which is planned for February 28th. Currently, Sein still experiences back pain as well as lower abdominal pain and tightness. If she sits or walks for a longer period of time, the pain worsens.
Doctors want Sein 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 Sein’s CT scan and care, scheduled for February 28th.
Sein said, “When I am in pain, I cannot do washing and other household chores. My husband has to help me with all this and he also has to accompany me which affects his income for our family.”