Navigation

---

KHAUNG CHAIT POE 3 Months Old

Khaung Chait Poe is 3 months old and was transferred to Mae Tao clinic with a large ventricle septal defect (VSD). The septum is a wall that separates the heart's left and right sides. Septal defects are sometimes called a "hole" in the heart. A large VSD causes excessive blood flow into the lungs, and pulmonary hypertension causing the child to have difficulty breathing, feeding and growing. Funding was found for Khaung Chait Poe’s diagnoses and tests at Chiang Mai Hospital but his family cannot afford the heart surgery to correct the heart defect. To be eligible for the surgery he must weigh at least 10kg but due to his condition it is difficult for him to put on weight. His parents are trying to feed him regularly and are doing all they can to ensure Khaung Chait Poe is eligible for surgery as soon as possible. He has an appointment in January 2007 at Chiang Mai Hospital to assess if he is ready for surgery. Until then he must try to remain healthy and his parents must constantly monitor his breathing and feeding.

VSD is not uncommon. One child in every 500 is born with VSD. Surgery is required to close the large VSD to enable the 2 heart ventricles to function separately and reduce the excessive blood flow into the lungs. The long-term prognosis after surgery is usually excellent and the child resumes normal growth and lung function almost immediately. However if the operation is not performed the child will suffer long-term cardiac and respiratory complications and will not grow like a normal child. Left untreated a child becomes so weak that even walking can be a laborious task and the child becomes short of breath and is severely debilitated. Without funding for surgery the long-term prognosis for Khaung Chait Poe is not good.
 
Khaung Chait Poe was also born with cleft lip and palate, which is the failure of the normal formation of the lip and palate resulting in lip deformity and an opening in the roof of the mouth. About 1 in 2,000 children are born with cleft palate and 1 in 1,000 with cleft lip. Left untreated Cleft palate can make it difficult for the child to feed and can lead to ear, speech and dental problems. This is corrected by surgery to form the lip and to close the palate. Once again, Khaung Chait Poe’s parents do not have the funds for this relatively simple procedure to correct a common defect among children. In developed nations this deformity is corrected soon after birth. Children from Burma can grow into adults and live with this facial deformity their whole life.

Rotary Fund have kindly agreed to sponsor Khaung Chait Poe’s surgery

---