BCMF is delighted to share the story of Naut Naut, one of our patients. Naut Naut was born on August 1, 2011 with pneumonia, respiratory failure, and obstructive jaundice due to biliary atresia (liver duct blockage). Unable to care for a sick infant, her parents abandoned her at the hospital and she was referred to BCMF in September 2011. After undergoing treatment at Chiang Mai Hospital in Thailand, Naut Naut is now a healthy, happy baby girl with a family. Watch her story here: Naut Naut’s Journey.
BCMF had a busy start to 2013 with patient registration into the program reaching unprecedented numbers. From January to March we enrolled 77 new patients into the program, up from 41 in the last quarter of 2012.
We believe that the increase in patient enrollment is due in part to the increased freedom of movement that has occurred because of the recent political reforms in Burma. This increased freedom of movement has occurred both within Karen State and on the Thai-Burma border.
Read our first quarter report to find out more about patients we have treated and the expected challenges for 2013.
BCMF is launching our 2012 Annual Report this week, and as we reflect on 2012 and the highlights and challenges that were, we also now look to 2013 and the challenges and achievements that the year has already brought, as well as the rest of the year ahead.
In 2012, the number of patients treated was a major highlight for BCMF, and we were delighted to see the completion of treatment for two of our long-time patients Saw Pwel (pictured below) and Naut Naut (whose stories are highlighted in the report). Continue reading →
Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) is looking for a short-term volunteer to help conduct patient interviews onsite at the Mae Tao Clinic. We are interested in someone who can be available for a few hours each day to conduct intake interviews with new patients as well as post-op interviews with existing patients. All interviews are conducted onsite at Mae Tao Clinic with the assistance of a translator.
Here is BCMF’s Three Month Summary for the period July to September 2012. In this past quarter, BCMF has seen a total of 35 new patients, averaging more than 10 per month.
Additionally, BCMF has had a total of 316 follow-up visits from existing patients this quarter. Download our most recent report to read more about our third quarter, get to know some of our newest patients and find out how you can help!
Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Thorbjørn Jagland’s speech at Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nobel Lecture
“In my own country, hostilities have not ceased in the far north; to the west, communal violence resulting in arson and murder were taking place just several days before I started out on the journey that has brought me here today. News of atrocities in other reaches of the earth abound. Reports of hunger, disease, displacement, joblessness, poverty, injustice, discrimination, prejudice, bigotry; these are our daily fare. Everywhere there are negative forces eating away at the foundations of peace. Everywhere can be found thoughtless dissipation of material and human resources that are necessary for the conservation of harmony and happiness in our world.” Aung San Suu Kyi
“Few have done more than you have to make the world a better place for all of us. We thank you for your fearlessness, your tenacity and your strength, and we wish you the best of luck with the important work ahead of you.” Thorbjørn Jagland
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:
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!
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 inspiringvideo 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.
Visit our YouTube Channel and watch heartwarming videos of our patients that will move and inspire you.
‘Like’ our Facebook page and ask your friends and family to do the same. We don’t bombard you with daily posts but we do share brave stories and some truly amazing transitions from sickness to health.
Make a donation and help BCMF continue operating to give Burma’s kids a future…
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:
Amongst our new cases were to young children who sustained serious burns. 14-year-oldSi 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.
