Kann
When Kann was 3 months old his mother took him to the Pho Phra Hospital near their home on the Thai side of the Thai-Burma border. A doctor there told her the child had pneumonia. However, his symptoms continued and his mother returned with him to the hospital 8 times. Finally, a doctor diagnosed Kann with a hear heart condition in June, 2009. The doctor said they would have to go to as an emergency to Mae Sot Hospital, and they were taken by ambulance. Mae Sot Hospital gave the child oxygen, did x-rays and kept him in the ICU. Each time had been at Pho Phra Hospital it had cost them 500 Thai Baht (US$14.70). At Mae Sot Hospital, the cost was 100,000 Thai Baht (US$2941). However, Kann’s parents could not afford to pay the bill. One of the hospital staff at the hospital suggested that they take the child to Mae Tao Clinic, as the clinic could help them for free.Kann’s father does odd jobs for a living. Every morning he goes out to find work, however, he does not always get a job for the day. When he does work he earns 100 Thai Baht (US$2.94) for the day. He currently has a 10 year work permit, but this is on the condition that he pays his boss 1,500 (US$44) Thai Baht every year to keep it. Kann’s mother does not work, she stays home to mind Kann. Kann has a 4 year old sister, but she stays with his aunty who also lives in Pho Phra. Kann’s mother moved with her family to Pho Phra in Thailand 10 years ago, from Burma, when she was 14. She met Kann’s father in Pho Phra, he had moved to the area from Burma to find work.
Kann’s mother says she has many difficulties. Every time they manage to save money they need to spend it on Kann’s medical bills and milk powder for him as she can no longer breast feed. Her husband has found a little more work than usual lately so they are doing a bit better, but she worries for her son’s future their lives are so uncertain. She hopes that her child can get treatment in the future. Kann symptoms vary in severity, but his mother says that he usually has cyanosis (blue colouring), he cannot sleep very well and he cannot suck for breast milk. She says that it is so difficult for them to travel to and from MTC and the hospital and she always fears for their safety. If they get caught they can be deported or else they have to pay a bribe to the police officer to go free. She says that life is so difficult and she hopes BCMF can help her.
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