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U LA PA – 50 Years Old

U La Pa is a special case for BCMF. While the fund usually deals only with children under 18 years of age, an exception was made for this man, because of the nature of his condition. He is 50 years old from Beelin, Tha Hton Province, Burma, and was accompanied to Mae Tao Clinic, which he heard about from family and friends, by his wife.

U La Pa has a tumor on his upper lip that if left untreated would spread over the rest of his face. He is fit and needs to work to support his family, without the income he brings, his family would all suffer.

The condition began 2 months ago in March 2007, and he tried to get treatment in Poh Prah hospital where he and his wife were working, but received only a creme to apply to the upper lip and some medicine to take in tablet form. Neither had any effect and the condition continued to worsen. One trip to the hospital in Poh Prah cost the couple 1000 baht ($31).

U La Pa and his wife have been doing day work in and around Poh Prah for the last 4 years. They have no work permits, only state permits and earn between 60-70 baht a day ($2-$2.20). Income is irregular and sometimes they may earn nothing for days at a time. They go back and forth between Poh Prah and Burma looking for work, but now neither are working because of U La Pu’s illness.

U La Pa arrived at Mae Tao Clinic April 4th 2007. Shortly after he arrived he was referred to Mae Sot Hospital, where they took a tissue sample which was sent to Chiang Mai for analysis. In a follow up appointment at Mae Sot Hospital they confirmed that it was cancerous, and there is nothing they can do. U La Pu and his wife have been living at Mae Tao Clinic for the last month, waiting to go to Chiang Mai to have the tumor removed.

It takes one days travel by bus to the Clinic and costs 50,000 Kyat ($61). U La Pu and his wife also have 3 children living in Burma, two daughters aged 20 and 15 and one son aged 17. They live with their grandparents in Beelin while their parents try to earn a living on the Thai border to be able to afford to send them to school.

U La Pa’s wife told me that when they heard it was cancer, they were very worried. U La Pa is the primary provider for the family. Now he cannot work and if he does not get treatment in Chiang Mai to have the tumor removed, it is likely it will spread through his body and he will not live. If he has the tumor removed he will more than likely make a full recovery and be able to continue to care for his family.

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