A new report into health and human rights in eastern Burma has been released. ‘Diagnosis Critical’ reveals that the health of populations (particularly women and children) in conflict-affected areas of eastern Burma are amongst the worst in the world.

Saw Pwel: walking again

Dear friends,

2011 has been another busy year for BCMF with more cases than any other year. In November alone we had over 25 new cases – a new record!

Thankfully we have had a lot of support from our friends from all around the world. Thanks to their support, we have been able to treat many children and adults. We have seen some amazing transformations. Your ongoing support of BCMF is life-saving and we see this on a daily basis on the ground.

Here are some brief highlights of 2011:

• Than Zin’s successful surgery: with little hope for survival, Than Zin surprised us all with her determination to live. She underwent life-saving surgery to remove a large mass from the back of her head. Read Than Zin’s story…
• Khaing’s moving story: Khaing travelled with his father from his village in the jungle seeking treatment for a condition that would have been dealt with in his infant years if he was born in a different country. At ten years of age, Khaing had learnt to live with a colostomy and had learnt to deal with the taunts and teasing of his peers. In February he had surgery. He now has everything to live for and is excited about his new education opportunity on the Thai-Burma border. Khaing says that he wants to be  a doctor when he grows up.
• Saw Pwel – learning to walk again: this brave 4-year-old came to the Mae Tao Clinic in July 2011. Saw Pwel suffered severe burns to his legs in April and the scar tissue caused his legs to fuse at 90 degree angles. He adapted his mobility and learnt to roll rather than walk. Here is an inspiring video of Saw Pwel learning to walk again.
  

  Thin Thin: a courageous recovery

• Hnin Tha – a success to sing about: 7-year-old Hnin Tha returned from Chiang Mai after major heart surgery. When asked how she felt after her surgery, her response was to break out in song. Her mother’s smile was priceless.
• Thin Thin’s will to survive: In June 2011, BCMF were called to assist an 18-year-old woman who had been brought to the Mae Tao Clinic suffering extensive burns to over 42% of her body. She was in immense pain and her family gathered around her doubting her survival. After many months enduring painful treatment and suffering from severe weight loss from not being able to eat, Thin Thin has survived. She left the Mae Tao Clinic in December 2011 and is now back at home with her family.
• Students helping students: having received a lot of interest from different schools around the globe, BCMF became the charity partner for Alfrink College in the Netherlands for 2012. A success event in December 2011 has already raised vital funds to help BCMF continue operating to give Burma’s kids a future…
• Reading for women’s reproductive health: by far out top individual fundraiser this year was Anna from Sydney. To celebrate her birthday, she decided to take on a mammoth read-a-thon to raise money for BCMF’s pilot program to treat women with gynaecological conditions such as uterine mass and prolapse. Her successful fundraising means that around 35 women will be able to receive life-changing surgery next year.

There were so many more highlights that we want to share with you but we will leave it at this for now. Keep an eye out on our website, facebook page and youtube channel for more stories and updates from our patients. Each and every journey they make is testimony to their determination to survive. The sacrifices that these children’s parents make are second to none and every day they motivate us to keep trying to find funds to keep the program running.

Thank you all for your support this year. Here is a very small token of our great appreciation – a greeting card from all of us.

Kindest regards,

The BCMF Team

Stay in touch…

Dear friends,

New Case: 16-year-old Nyi Nyi

In August 2011, BCMF took on 12 new cases and transferred 38 patients (plus their carers) from the Mae Tao Clinic to Chiang Mai for initial investigation, surgery or post-surgical follow-up appointments.

The conditions our new cases presented with varied greatly and included:

• Congenital heart disease
• Brain tumour
• Congenital mass (neck)
• Severe burn injuries (x2)
• Imperforate anus
• Restricted tongue movement (“tongue tie”)

Amongst our new cases were to young children who sustained serious burns. 14-year-old Si Thu was warming himself by the fire in his family’s home in Mon State when he caught alight. His back and arms were severely burnt. 10-year-old Win Win suffered from burns to her neck and chest whilst playing with friends. The scar tissue has caused serious disfigurement and now Win Win’s chin is fused to her chest.

• DOWNLOAD: AUGUST 2011 ACTIVITY REPORT
  

Thank you for your ongoing support.

The BCMF team

CONNECT TO BCMF…

• Read our July 2011 Activity report
• Watch heartwarming videos on the BCMF YouTube Channel
• Learn more about ‘Hydrocephalus’ (water on the brain) – a condition we fund treatment for.
• Like our BCMF Facebook page and share it with your friends
• Sponsor a BCMF Patient Van and make a direct contribution to save the lives of many patients; not just one.

Dear friends,

New Case: Saw Pwel (4 years old)

With rainy season in full-swing, July was a little bit quieter than last month (fewer new patients were referred to BCMF likely due to increased difficulty traveling from inside Burma). BCMF transferred 36 patients (plus their carers) from the Mae Tao Clinic to Chiang Mai for initial investigation, surgery or post-surgical follow-up appointments.

The transfer dates for BCMF Patient Vans were as follows:

• 7 July 2011
• 14 July 2011
• 21 July 2011
• 28 July 2011

BCMF took on 8 new cases in July under both the children’s and adult program. Amongst our new cases was four-year-old Saw Pwel (see photo) who was carried into the Mae Tao Clinic by his father. Saw Pwel had sustained serious burns to  his legs in April 2011 and the scar tissue has fused his legs at 90 degree angles. Saw Pwel was on the BCMF patient van on 21 July 2011 and he remains in Chiang Mai with his mother undergoing treatment.

A number of cases returned from Chiang Mai after successfully undergoing treatment. One dramatic case was that of Than Zin Moe (photo below) who underwent major surgery to have a large fluid-filled sac removed from the back of her head. She recovered well after her surgery and Than Zin Moe was able to return from Chiang Mai in July to be re-united with the rest of her family. Other stories will soon appear on our website and we will continue to update our facebook page regularly with photographs.

• DOWNLOAD: JULY 2011 ACTIVITY REPORT
  

Thank you for your ongoing support.

The BCMF team

Success Story: Than Zin Moe (removal of congenital mass from back of head)

CONNECT TO BCMF…

• Read our June 2011 Activity report
• Watch the heartwarming video of Poe and Sandor, the brother and sister who came onto the BCMF program in May and were transferred to Chiang Mai in June. 6-year-old Sandor has been diagnosed with a brain tumour while her brother, Poe, is currently undergoing treatment for cataracts in both eyes.
• Learn more about ‘Hydrocephalus’ (water on the brain) – a condition we fund treatment for.
• Like our BCMF Facebook page and share it with your friends
• Sponsor a BCMF Patient Van and make a direct contribution to save the lives of many patients; not just one.

Dear friends,

June 2011 was a busy month for BCMF with five patient vans departing the Mae Tao Clinic for Chiang Mai. A total of 48 patients (plus their carers) went to Chiang Mai and 10 BCMF patients were scheduled for surgery. Incorporating the return trip, BCMF facilitated the movement of over 100 people between Chiang Mai and Mae Sot (360kms).

June 2011 new case: Chor

• DOWNLOAD: JUNE 2011 ACTIVITY REPORT

BCMF took on 15 new cases under the children’s and adults program (Burma Adult Medical Fund – BAMF). Of these cases was an 18-year-old girl who presented at the Mae Tao Clinic with burns to 42% of her body. BCMF also took on a number of children who presented with congenital heart disease, including 17-year-old Yan Naing.

Sadly, the protracted conflict in eastern Burma claimed the life of the father of one of our young patients with hydrocephalus (see Field Update 14 June 2011). Chit was scheduled to go to Chiang Mai in June however his follow-up appointment has been postponed to a later date.

On another very sad note, 7-year-old Myo Kyaw went to Chiang Mai for the last time in June 2011. His condition had deteriorated rapidly and he was given a poor prognosis by the specialist who had been overseeing his treatment. Myo Kyaw had been fighting hard against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) since he came onto the BCMF program in February 2008. He passed away peacefully at Mae Tao Clinic in early July with his parents by his side.  (read more in the report)

Despite the sad events which took place in June, BCMF also had many happy events with a number of children returning from Chiang Mai after successful treatment. Their stories will soon appear on our website and we will continue to update our facebook page regularly with photographs.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

The BCMF team

CONNECT TO BCMF…

• Read our May 2011 Activity report
• Watch the video of Poe and Sandor, the brother and sister who came onto the BCMF program in May and were transferred to Chiang Mai in June. 6-year-old Sandor has been diagnosed with a brain tumour and her brother, Poe, will undergo treatment for a cataract in his right eye.
• Like our BCMF Facebook page
• Sponsor a BCMF Patient Van and make a direct contribution to save the lives of many patients; not just one.

Make a difference... sponsor a van today.

Today 9 patients travelled from Mae Sot to Chiang Mai for treatment of conditions that are unable to be treated along the Thai-Burma border or in Burma due to prohibitive costs and lack of health infrastructure. These treatments include surgery for congenital heart disease; treatment and surgery for neurological and lung conditions; specialist eye treatment and surgery to repair congenital urological deformity.

The patient’s that went to Chiang Mai today were:

• Shin (3 years old): bilateral eye condition
• Rapi (1 year old): congenital heart disease
• Sher (6 months old: bilateral eye condition
• Dah Dah (5 months old): congenital heart disease
• San San (32 years old): lung condition
• Eh Ka (6 months old): Hypospadias (urological condition)
• Tin Htun (4 years old): neck mass
• Nant Moo (2 years old): neurological condition
• Saw Pwel (4 years old): burn injury (lower half of body)

Here is a short video of them embarking on their journey:

Keep in touch with BCMF on Facebook and Twitter:

On Thursday 14 July, nine patients and seven carers made their way to Chiang Mai with the BCMF Patient Van.

Here is a video slideshow of their journey to better health…

Summary of Patients:

• Hnin Si(5 years old) has been with BCMF since July 2009. She has completed her treatment and is returning to Chiang Mai for a follow-up.
  

  Zaw Htet

• Htet Lay (14 years) broke his leg many years ago and it is believed that it never healed properly. In May 2011, he snapped his thigh bone in half when he was playing football at a monastery.
• Zaw Htet (5 years) has congenital heart disease. His symptoms are advanced.
• Yoon  (10 months old) was born with a bump at the base of her skull (later diagnosed as a ‘meningocele’ – a condition where the tissue covering the spinal cord sticks out of a bone defect and appears like a skin cover sac).
• Chor (9 years) was born with a small lump on his nose (encephalocele). It has grown very large.
• Nay Linn (4 years) has congenital heart disease.
• Nai (33 years) broke his leg 2 years ago in a motorbike accident. He can no longer work and support his family. (Burma Adult Medical Fund)
• Win Ko (19 years) was orphaned when he was very young. Two years ago his leg was crushed by a tractor.
• Yan Naing (16 years) has a serious heart condition.

                          The BCMF Patient Van for 14 July 2011 was sponsored by Dress a GIRL for Burma.

Poe Kyaw and his sister, Mya Sandor: new cases for BCMF

In May 2011, BCMF accepted 12 new patients onto the program. This included referrals to all of our programs: Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Burma Adult Medical Fund (BAMF) and Burma Women Medical Fund (BWMF).

Please have a read of our May Activity Report to find out more about the new cases and which patients were transferred to Chiang Mai for treatment.

                  May 2011 Activity Report: Burma Children Medical Fund

…Not only are BCMF patients fighting to overcome serious medical problems, they are fighting for survival on a daily basis. Many of them live in areas that are constantly under threat from different armed groups including the Burmese army. Villages continue to be attacked and villagers are forced to run….

Chit after surgery (Apr. '10)

Young BCMF patients’ father killed by escalating conflict in Eastern Burma

The ongoing conflict in eastern Burma is very real and very tangible for many of BCMF’s patients. In fact, it would not be inaccurate to say that all of our patients (children, adults and women) have been either directly or indirectly affected by conflict in Burma – particularly when it comes to accessing basic health care.

Today we received news that one of our young patients, Chit, lost his father to the conflict in eastern Burma. Chit came onto the BCMF program when he was two months old and successfully underwent surgery in Chiang Mai in February 2010. He travelled to Chiang Mai with his mother while his father stayed behind to look after his three older siblings. His father is a farmer and he continued working on a farm growing beans to sell at the market to support the family while Chit was undergoing treatment. After his operation, Chit returned with his mother to his family’s village. Chit remains on the BCMF program as he still needs to travel to Chiang Mai for follow-up appointments. In June 2011, Chit’s father was returning to the village by line-car (a utility vehicle whereby passengers ride seated on benches that form two rows in the back tray behind the drivers cab). The line car was caught in the cross fire between opposing armies and Chit’s father became a civilian casualty.

Chit's mother now faces future challenges alone...

Chit’s story is one of hardship – like many of the other children who find their way onto the BCMF program via the Mae Tao Clinic. The family’s hardship was further exacerbated by Chit’s medical condition (hydrocephalus) which required surgery and follow-up in Chiang Mai. His parents have endured many challenges in their effort to get Chit the medical care he needed for his condition. Now his mother has to face future challenges on her own. She will have to find a way to support her four young children as well as care for Chit. Chit will require future follow-ups in Chiang Mai to make sure his shunt (the tube that drains the excess fluid from his brain) doesn’t get blocked or infected. Chit was also scheduled to have surgery on an ingroin hernia later this month. Given the circumstances, Chit and his mother won’t be able to make it back to the Mae Tao Clinic for their departure on the BCMF patient van on 16 June 2011. His surgical appointment will be re-scheduled and BCMF will do whatever we can to support his mother through this difficult time.

• Read Chit’s Post-Operation Success Story
• Read more about the situation on the Thai-Burma border

Help BCMF continue to fund life-saving treatment for children from Burma. Make a donation today.

This morning saw 17 people (9 patients and 8 carers) depart for Chiang Mai on the BCMF patient van for treatment. They included 5-year-old Htwe (final cardiac surgery); 8-year-old Pai (renal follow-up); 2-year-old Zayar (heart surgery); 2 year-old Di (surgery for meningocele on lower back); 1-year-old Kyay (cardiac catheterisation), 6-year-old Sandar (post-meningitis complications) and her 13-year-old brother, Poe (vision impaired).

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

In February 2011, Australian artist Mark Prosser opened his art exhibition at Nai 99 Shop in Chiang Mai.

The exhibit featured a number of vibrant paintings, drawings and prints by Mark.

In May 2011 Mark presented Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) with proceeds from the sale of his paintings.

BCMF would like to thank Mark for using his creative talent to help seriously ill children from Burma get the treatment they need.

Artist Mark Prosser in Chiang Mai with his painting

You can read about other ways people have fundraised for BCMF here…