Provide lifesaving healthcare for Burmese refugees

From October to December 2024, we are grateful to share that Watsi supported 26 life-changing surgical care in the region. Thanks to you and to Watsi’s donors from around the world for generously supporting our project and helping us to provide healthcare for Burmese refugees, displaced persons, and those impacted by conflict in the region. At Watsi, we have the privilege of hearing directly from each patient about how access to critical healthcare improves their quality of life, impacting not only their lives but also entire families and communities. We wanted to share a few stories with you of how your support was put to work over the past few months to change lives for the better.

https://watsi.org/profile/2b2bf87da961-nu 

Nu is a 17-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her aunt and two cousins in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. They moved to Thailand due to the political issues in Burma in search of better job opportunities and a safe place to stay. One of her cousins works at a plastic factory and her aunt and another cousin work as agricultural day laborers. After years of discomfort, doctors found a large ovarian tumor. After her successful surgery, Nu can now move around more comfortably. She can walk more easily and eat better. Nu plans to go back to work after her full recovery.

Nu’s mother stated, “When we heard that Nu would need surgery, we just cried and were scared to lose her. We could not afford to pay for her treatment. So, when we learned that the clinic found a donor for her, we were so happy and relieved.” Nu added, “Thank you so much for your support with my treatment, it means a lot to me and my family.”

https://watsi.org/profile/de36dd660eeb-su 

Su is a 16-year-old teenage girl from Burma. Her father is a chef at a restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand who contributes monthly to his family in Burma. The monthly income is not enough to cover their daily expenses. They need to borrow money to meet monthly expenses. In her free time, Su likes to watch drama series on her phone and listen to music. In August 2023, Su started to experience discomfort in her neck. There was a swelling that gradually became bigger. Su was seen at a local hospital but her condition did not improve. Su was brought to our medical partner’s care center where doctors performed several scans and tests and underwent a mass excision.

Su said, “I am happy to have received the treatment. Thank you to the donors for supporting me financially for the treatment.” Su added, “As soon as I have fully recovered, I will find a job so I can support my family.”

https://watsi.org/profile/a268646e0987-yee 

Yee is a 19-month-old baby girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, two sisters, two cousins, aunt, and two uncles in a house in Mandalay Division. They are originally from Magway Division and they fled to their rented house in Mandalay in August 2022 due to constant armed conflict near their village. Yee’s mother is a homemaker and her father works as a car broker. Even though her father’s income is not steady, he makes enough to cater for their monthly living expenses. When Yee was nine months old her mother noticed she had a prolonged fever, abdominal distension, and weight loss. Yee’s mother took her to a local specialist clinic where the doctor took an abdominal ultrasonography (USG), and the result revealed a tumor in her abdomen.

Yee underwent successful tumor removal surgery. After the surgery, she was able to sleep and eat better. She no longer experiences abdominal distension and her fever is gone.