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Saw Win Share (Bladder Stones)

June 5, 2015  •  Posted in BAMF Success stories

Saw Win Share is a 44 year old man who came to BAMF in 2013 for surgery to remove bladder stones. Originally from Taungoo Township in the Bago District of Burma, Saw Win Share worked as a day labourer in his home village until 2002, when Burmese army soldiers entered his village and accused him of being a Karen National Union (KNU) soldier. Saw Win Share was detained and beaten so severely that he remained unconscious for two days. When he regained consciousness, he was paralyzed from the neck down and to this day he requires the use of a wheelchair. In 2006, the Burmese army returned to Taungoo and burned the village to the ground, forcing Saw Win Share and his family to flee to the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand, where they have lived ever since.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURESIn November 2013, Saw Win Share began to experience burning pain and profuse sweating during urination. He went to a clinic in the Mae La camp where an ultrasound revealed that he was suffering from bladder stones. The clinic doctors explained that Saw Win Share would need to go to a larger hospital to receive the surgery needed to remove the stones. Unable to afford the cost of surgery and transportation to a hospital, Saw Win Share was referred to BAMF for treatment.

BAMF transferred Saw Win Share to Chiang Mai in February 2014 to undergo surgery. By the time he arrived at the hospital, his symptoms had become so severe that he was admitted as an emergency case. The operation took place shortly following his admission and doctors were able to successfully remove the stones that had been causing his pain. The stones caused permanent urethral damage that will require Saw Win Share to use a catheter for the rest of his life, however he no longer feels pain and believes he will adjust to living with the catheter. Saw Win Share says he is thankful for the care he received from BAMF and is relieved to be free from pain. He volunteers as a pastor in the Mae La Camp and plans to share testimony from his experience with others in his church when he returns.