Surgery for Cleft Lip boy, Kaung Thet Aung, who was the victim of Cyclone Nargis
Levi Sap Nei Thang
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Kaung Thet Aung, a 7 years old boy, (cleft palate and lip since birth) from Tee Chaung village, Bogale Township, Irrawaddy Division, where Cyclone devastated the livelihood of his parents and his 6 other siblings. They did not have food for 13 days until "i Love Myanmar" team found them. Right from that moment, this family received the support from "i Love Myanmar" and within two months in July 2008, they moved into a hardwood house which was built by "i Love Myanmar."
In Tee Chaung, Bogale Township, we have been constructing new school building and all villagers who survived the Cyclone Nargis received new hardwood houses beside many relief supplies, boats, fishing and farming equipment.
I wanted to help this boy with his medical and surgical situation during that time in 2008 but we had to focus on the immediate needs of many Cyclone victims. It has been over one year since I last met this family but I have not forgotten them.
However, a friend of mine, Richard T was swift to remind me about the surgical needs of this kid. I really appreciate him for bringing the needs of Kaung Thet Aung again. Thus, i Love Myanmar enable him to undergo cleft lip and palate surgery at the Yangon Children Hospital.
This family was very sad that their youngest child has cleft lip and palate since birth There was no way the family can afford to get surgery in Yangon Children Hospital.
The child himself felt ashamed because other children teased him. Consequently, he does not want to go to school although he can eat and talk well. If this boy does not have surgery to fix his cleft lip and palate, he will be mostly home bound due to shame. He will not have courage to attend school due to low self-image.
Kaung Thet Aung
He will have a dim future and will be depressed most of his life and consequently not reach his full potential in his life.
On 12 November 2009, Kaung Htet Aung undergone a successful operation. He went into the operation theatre at 10:30 a.m and came out at 12 noon. When he woke up from his sleep, he asked for water but when he was told that he was not allow to drink any water yet, he agreed to it. He did not cry nor did he grumble like other kids. He knows that he will be going to school after his surgical wound is healed. He knows he now has opportunity to taste and experienced what he had lost.
On 13th November, he could drink Ovaltine (a cocoa based drink) which gave him some strength. On 14th of November, he took shower and put on “thana kha”. It is normal for Myanmar kids to put this powder on their face. He also began to interact with other children.
This family felt excited to see their child going to have an opportunity to live like other normal children and they are especially glad that Kaung Thet Aung can attend school. This is a dream come true for Kaung Thet Aung.
We are looking forward to him going home and to attend school again. This is a new day for Kaung Thet Aung. I can see him running around and playing with other children again in the wide and open rice field and rivers of Tee Chaung village. We are privilege to be able to touch one child at a time.
Myanmar
