FAMILY IN DESPAIR: Mi Kyi Win holding her ill daughter Mi Thaw Thar as Nai Tint looks on
This sums up the predicament of refugee Myanmar couple Nai Tint, 34, and Mi Kyi Win, 32, who are now broke and desperately seeking RM42,000 for their two-year-old daughter, who is suffering from leukaemia, to get medical treatment.
The couple had been hopeful of starting a new life in Malaysia after fleeing Myanmar early last year with their daughter Mi Thaw Thar.
As they belonged to the Mun Chin tribe, they were treated as outcasts in their native country.
The family arrived in Malaysia last year to seek a better life. With help from their friends who had already been living in Malaysia for some time, they managed to obtain refugee status here from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Nai Tint has since then found work as an odd-job contractor and the mother, Mi Kyi Win, does odd jobs in restaurants. And just when their lives seemed to be improving, their daughter fell terribly ill about three weeks ago.
“At first, she seemed very uneasy and kept crying all the time. Then, she was suddenly down with fever for two to three days." said Nai Tint.
"We took her to a clinic and she was treated as normal. But a week later, she was still so weak and she suddenly couldn’t even walk anymore. We immediately took her to the clinic again.
“The doctor was very worried. And then he broke the bad news to us and said all her symptoms were early signs of cancer. He recommended we rush her to the Sime Darby Medical Centre in Subang Jaya."
Following this advice, the couple's worst fears were confirmed as their only daughter was found to be suffering from leukaemia.
“The next shock was the hospital bill. We had never been to a private hospital, so we didn’t know what to expect. But we certainly didn’t expect it to be so much, RM6,500, which basically wiped out all our lifetime savings,” said Nai Tint.
With no money and almost no hope left, little Mi Thaw Thar still needed various treatments like chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and surgery to help her recover.
Given the couple's financial plight, they were advised to approach a government hospital as a more affordable option.
“When we approached Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL), we were advised it would cost RM42,000 for the whole treatment of about two years. Obviously, we don’t have that kind of money and HKL didn’t allow us to just pay a deposit and follow up with instalments.
“We then approached the UNHCR office for help and were told it would take time for such financial aid to come through.
"But we do not have time. Our daughter is in urgent need of treatment. Her blood count has already dropped to very low levels. The longer we wait, the worse her condition becomes.
“We are trying to do whatever we can to raise the funds needed. We love our daughter and we would give our lives in a second to save her. We can’t even go back to our country and ask for help as the police will arrest us for fleeing the country and obtaining refugee status.
“My wife and I haven’t worked in over a week. I am forced to return to work this week but my wife has to stay at home to look after our daughter.
"Things are looking very bleak for us now and unfortunately I cannot do anything at all to make things better for my family,” Nai Tint said, with tears rolling down his cheeks.
For those who would like to help little Mi Thaw Thar get a second lease on life, contact The Malay Mail at 03-79472288.
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