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NO NO 4 Years Old

No No is a four year old boy from Mae Tao Ta Lay who has just returned from Chiang Mai after having the first operation to fix his heart. He was born with a condition called Tetralogy of the Fallot and will need to undergo multiple operations in order to correct the function of his heart. No No has two sisters aged twelve and nine years, both of whom are healthy. They remained at home with their father while No No and his mother went to Chiang Mai. The family has not been together since the 11th December 2006. The family is very happy that he has been able to have the surgery.

No No and his mother were in Chiang Mai for two months. He spent nine days in hospital and the remainder of the time in a patient house. The only cost for No No’s family was for his mother’s meals while in hospital, which amounted to 600 baht. All other costs were funded through sponsorship. Before he left for Chiang Mai, No No and his mother has to travel to Mae Sot hospital every month for seven months, in order to get propanolol medication essential for maintaining his heart. This was very expensive as their family lives far from Mae Sot.

No No’s mother has noticed huge changes in his health since the operation. He looks better, he is able to play better, he is no longer short of breath and he is less tired. Before surgery he was cyanosed as a result of his heart failing. Cyanosed means that the oxygen in the blood supply to his feet, arms and lips was decreased, potentially causing serious harm. The surgery has improved this. No No is very small in comparison to other four year old boys as a result of his heart condition. His growth will improve to some extent following surgery, but he still requires another operation to develop into a healthy boy with a functioning heart.

The operation is scheduled for September this year and if a sponsor for this is not found, No No will be unable to have the surgery. The family can not afford it. He will continue to live at home, hoping that in the future he can have the operation. Hopefully while his family waits, his heart will not get worse. He is on aspirin medication at the moment and this will help prevent the post surgical complication of thrombosis, which can cause damage to other organs. He also takes vitamin B1 complex and vitamin C.

Since No No is now much better, he will be able to start school. He has been unable to go because of his heart problem that makes him tired and short of breath. His mother will also be able to start working, and earn the money that will pay for No No and his sisters to go to high school.

No No’s improving health has also significantly impacted on his family. His parents were very anxious about his heart problem. Many days he was very sick and No No and his mother would have to travel to Mae Tao Clinic. It costs the family 150 baht ($4.75) each time. He also received medical treatment for malaria and malnutrition, and received his vaccinations. He was admitted many times to the inpatient department because he was seriously ill. No No’s parents hope that maybe they will not need to visit the clinic so often now. They are very happy and relieved that he is now healthier and happier.

No No’s mother hopes that in the future No No will be healthy and that he and his sisters will finish high school. Gaining high school education will allow them the opportunity to get a good job, like a teacher. If his heart continues to function poorly, she fears that he will not be able to have an education or that he may die.

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