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MA LAR NYEIN - 18 Months Old

Ma Thiang Sein and her husband U Nay Min have had more than their fair share of sadness over the years. They had 3 children, two daughters and a son, but the two daughters passed away, one from cerebral malaria when she was two years old, the other at birth. Their 10 year old son was excited when he learned his mother was expecting twins

Mar Lar Nyein and her twin sister were born at Mae Sot Hospital, as the family lives nearby. It was a normal delivery but Mar Lar Nyein turned blue soon after birth and her parents feared that they would lose another child. She survived but continues to turn blue every day. While her sister grows bigger and runs around playing, tiny Mar Lar Nyein sits wistfully and still, with little energy even to eat.

Although her parents were constantly worried for her, they did not have the money for the hospital and were afraid to travel far from their home in case the Thai police arrest them for not having a permit. At least living in Thailand, there is a hospital to go to. Inside Burma, the health system is so depleted that people rely on traditional healers who, in this case, could not help.

So Ma Thiang Sein has devoted her time since her daughters’ birth to watch over Mar Lar Nyein. The minute she turns blue she changes her position and helps her breath. She and her husband made the painful decision to send their other children, Mar Lar Nyein’s twin sister and their ten year old son to stay with their grandmother in Burma. They worried that Mar Lar Nyein would be negatively affected by the other children as she is so susceptible to illness, fevers and respiratory infections.

In March, they came to Mae Tao Clinic where Mar Lar Nyein was admitted to the Child Inpatient Department. She was given oxygen, vitamins, iron and other added nutrition.  The clinic diagnosed but is unable to treat her congenital heart disease. For treatment the family needs money to pay for a referral from the local hospital to the Pediatric surgeons at Chiang Mai public hospital. This will cost about US$5,000. Without this intervention, Mar Lar Nyein’s survival chances are limited.

Mar Lar Nyein’s parents wish for her to live a normal healthy life and be able to go to school with her sister. They have had more heartache in their past than any parents should have to deal with; they are just hoping that someone will provide the money for their daughter to be able to have the treatment she needs and the chance to live.

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