Archive for the ‘Reports’ Category

Dear friends,

So far this year, BCMF has taken on 60 new cases. This includes patients on all of our programs, especially Burma Women Medical Fund (BWMF) patients who are treated locally at Mae Sot Hospital.

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

• Congenital heart disease
• Meningocele
• Hydrocephalus
• Imperforate anus
• Uterine myomas

BCMF has also facilitated thirteen van trips from Mae Tao Clinic to Chiang Mai. Some patients were going to Chiang Mai for futher investigation while others were scheduled for surgery or follow-up appointments. Download our most recent report to read more about our first quarter, get to know some of our newest patients and find out how you can help!

• DOWNLOAD: January-March 2012 Summary
  

Thank you for your ongoing support.

The BCMF team

CONNECT TO BCMF…

• Follow us on Twitter!
• 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,

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,

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

 

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).

• 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.

 

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….