Hello everyone. My name is Mary. My family and I immigrated from Burma to the U.S. back in 1996. We left behind my mother's entire family, including my only grandmother I have left. She is 91 years old and is currently struggling to stay alive due to Covid.

(This was before we ran out of oxygen.)

Some of you that follow the news and current events probably already know what is going on in Burma right now. If you do not, here is a quick summary. The military coup in Burma seized control of the country, capturing the elected officials and declared a year long state of emergency in my country. Innocent protestors have been murdered by the military coup. There is so much corruption happening in Burma, no one is really safe over there. This is all happening while amidst a pandemic. Since the country has shut down, contact with the rest of the world has been a struggle and the country is limited on resources and medical supplies.

Back to what's happening to Grandma. Grandma's name is Pipi. Pipi is one of the oldest woman to be alive in Myaungmya. She was living in the city but when Covid hit Burma, plus the military violence happening on the streets, she was brought back to our small village for her safety. She is a really healthy 91 year old woman, she doesn't have any underlying health issues but since the third wave of Covid hit Burma, herself and many others in my village are struggling to stay alive from the disease.

I am starting this GoFundMe for my grandmother Pipi and other people that need medical attention in the villages of Myaungmya. Pipi's oxygen levels have been fluctuating from the lows of 50's to her highest 70's (normal range 70-100). She was turned away from. hospital because of her old age. We have contacted another hospital that said they might be able to take her once she takes a home covid test. We are still in search of a covid testing kit for her and pray that space will still be available for her once we get that done. Many people are being turned away from medical care in Burma right now, even elders.

We have a very close knit community in Myaungmya and would also like to help others who are sick and in need of help. My family and I have organized small fundraisers in Myaungmya before during the beginning of the pandemic. We created small care packages with essential living supplies and food for families in Myaungmya. We would like to put something similar together this time but catered towards health products such as masks, sanitizers, medication, gloves and other necessities.

The price for food, supplies, medication and medical equipment have skyrocketed since the lock down and the rise in covid cases in Burma. Not only are they expensive, but they are also not easy to come by. Serious searching and negotiating is involved to just get simple cough medicine. An oxygen concentrator machine can cost from $2,000-$3,000 right now. Oxygen tanks range from $600 - $1,000 but are also scarce at this time. There are also laws that require medical notes to travel to get medical supplies, you can't walk around with an oxygen tank or else the military will confiscate them from you. Myaungmya currently does not have a doctor to get a medical note so many times, people are traveling at their own risk of being arrested by the military. The goal is at $10,000 right now for that reason. Everything we send from the U.S. can be transported via airplane but will have to pay cost per pound to send medicine and supplies. Cost to send supplies to Burma from the U.S. is also expensive because the airplane has to go to Thailand first and then transport the supplies via train to Burma to a specific location where it can then be picked up by my family.

Any type of donation to help my grandmother and other sick people in Myaungmya is appreciated. If you cannot donate at this time, you can still help by sharing this GoFundMe to your social media. 

Above are photos from our last fundraiser we did in in Myaungmya. They are bags filled with rice, potatoes, onions, cooking oil, soap, toothpaste and other supplies. My family distributed these bags to families that were starving in our village.

Thank you so much for your time. Even if you were not able to donate, I hope you learned a little bit about what's happening in Burma and will spread awareness to the struggles in my country. Please pray for my grandmother's health and the health of others in Burma.