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NAING LINN - 3 Years Old

Naing Linn is 3 years old and lives with his 20 year old mother, Myat Su Mon in Maw La Muang in Burma, 5 hours drive away from the capital, Rangoon. When he was born, he was a blue colour from lack of oxygen and since birth he has never had any energy and will not eat anything that requires chewing. He frequently develops fevers and weakness and turns blue with any physical exertion.

After two years ineffective use of lotions and herbs recommended by a traditional healer in their hometown, Naing Linn’s parents made the 5 hour trip to Rangoon Hospital. There Naing Linn was admitted for a week and medical staff did x-rays, blood tests, ESR and diagnosed his congenital heart disease. Unfortunately they said they did not have the equipment or expertise to assist him. He would have to be taken to a third country for treatment.

Naing Linn’s mother heard about Mae Tao Clinic from her sister who lives nearby in Myawaddy, close to the thai burma border. In March, Myat Su Mon and her husband Thien Zaw, took the 8 hour journey to bring their son to Mae Tao Clinic, hoping he would be able to receive some sort of treatment there. Both of Naing Linn’s parents had to leave their jobs. Naing Linn’s mother makes pickles and spices to sell at the market, his father works in steel construction. Myat Su Mon’s sister’s family is supporting their stay while they attend the clinic.

Naing Linn was admitted to Mae Tao Clinic and was immediately assessed as being very below the average weight for his age and prescribed him nutritional supplements. The family must cross the border bridge to Thailand every two weeks for a checkup, using the one day pass which is the only permissible visa available to them. They fear being apprehended and deported by the thai polive when Naing Linn is very sick and needs to be admitted.

Despite the lengths gone to to get here, Naing Linn still cannot get the treatment he needs. Neither Mae Tao Clinic nor the nearby Mae Sot Hospital have the necessary facilities to provide the surgery that Naing Linn needs to save his life. He has been referred to Chiang Mai Public Hospital for surgery, however the costs involved are impossible for the family to pay. BCMF is currently looking for sponsorship to cover the cost of transport, accommodation and treatment in Chiang Mai.

Naing Linn’s 12 year old cousin says that he can sometimes make Naing Linn smile, but he can’t make him eat anything. He wants him to get better so he can play with his cousins. Naing Linn’s mother just wants a normal healthy life for her son, however Naing Linn and his family live in a world where this is only possible with the correct sum of money.

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