Posted by Gary Herman on Apr 01, 2019
Why is the house named BCMF-B.K. Kee Patient House?

BCMF Stands for Burma Children Medical Fund.  From their website: "The Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) was established in 2006 in response to the increasing number of children on the Thai-Burma border who required complex medical treatment and surgery that is not available at local clinics or hospitals. Prior to BCMF being established, children who required surgery had their symptoms treated and lived either severely incapacitated lives or died prematurely as a result.”  The website for BCMF is: https://burmachildren.com/

In conjunction with Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot, the BCMF sends children for advanced hospital treatments either in Bangkok or to hospitals in Chiang Mai. While waiting for treatment, the patients and family members stay at B.K. Kee Patient House.  The B.K. Kee Foundation is a family foundation dedicated to the development of vulnerable communities in and around Myanmar. The Foundation was founded in December, 2005, by Dr. Lay Khin Kay in memory of her mother, Kee Beng Kung (B.K. Kee), shown above left. The Foundation typically makes small, strategic grants to community based organizations in the health and education sectors. According to Kanchana Thornton, the director of BCMF, The B.K. Kee Foundation has provided full running costs including staff salaries since the house's inception in 2013. BCMF needs to reapply for funding every year and so far, the foundation has generously continued to provide funding so that is why the house is named B.K. Kee Patient House.

This last month has been a normal month at the house with eight to ten patients and their families in attendance. I was able to participate in several visits to the patients along with Rotarian Mike Lake and Rotarian from Zagreb Croatia Gordana Nardini.  Last week, in what I hope is a trend, we were joined by Saing Sint, a student from BEAM Education foundation. Saing Sint is herself a refugee from Myanmar so she has a special affinity for those at the house.

Due to smog conditions we did not practice English last week, instead we played some games and worked puzzles with the residents (below) while Saing Sint interviewed several. The patients and their families are originally from many areas in Myanmar and arrive from Mae Sot to Chiang Mai through the clinic. One mother and her 12 year old son who suffers from an ear problem come from Mandalay.  A 22 year old with heart problems arrived March 14th from Mae La refugee camp. Another 17 year old young lady who also has heart problems has been at the house since January; she came from Pago in Myanmar. One young lady with a possible blood clot and her mother arrived on the 20th.  A 17 year old boy with heart problems was there with his father; they both came from Magway in Myanmar.
 
These were only the patients and their parents from Sunday, March 24th. But they are representative of the good works at the house throughout the month. What always amazes me is the spirit, happiness and inner strength that they always show without complaint.

The air pollution problems in the Chiang Mai area caused us to cancel a planned painting party we were hoping have with the Chiang Mai International School Interact Club.  We did provide N95 masks for the residents to use, even though the masks limit our ability to practice English language with them.