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When U Tin Aung was first told he needed bypass surgery, his daughter Ma Ei made two phone calls. The first was to a relative who'd had similar surgery in Singapore three years earlier. The second was to us.
"My father was 67. He'd never traveled outside Myanmar," Ma Ei told us later. "We didn't know where to start."
This is the kind of moment we see often — a family suddenly facing a major medical decision without a map. Here's how their journey unfolded.
The first consultation
Ma Ei booked a free consultation through our Yangon office on a Tuesday. By Thursday, U Tin Aung's medical records — echocardiogram, angiogram, lab results — had been reviewed by our resident doctor. He explained the diagnosis in Burmese, asked clarifying questions, and laid out the options.
For triple bypass surgery, we recommended MedPark Hospital in Bangkok. Why MedPark? Their cardiac team has performed thousands of bypass procedures with one of the lowest complication rates in Southeast Asia. And their patient suites are excellent for an older patient who'll need a long recovery.
Ma Ei asked about cost. We gave her a written estimate covering the surgery, 7-day hospital stay, medications, and follow-up consultations. Accommodation for Ma Ei was an additional nightly cost near the hospital.
Preparing for travel
We handled the paperwork. The medical letter for the visa application came directly from the hospital. Tourist visa with medical documentation was submitted to the Thai Embassy in Yangon — approved in nine days. Flights were booked for U Tin Aung, Ma Ei, and her brother.
We coordinated wheelchair assistance at both airports. Pre-paid for a private vehicle from Suvarnabhumi to the hospital — no taxi negotiation in a foreign language. A Burmese-speaking patient coordinator from our Bangkok office met them at arrivals.
At the hospital
U Tin Aung was admitted to MedPark on a Monday. Pre-operative consultations, blood work, and a final imaging check took two days. The surgical team spoke with the family in English, with our coordinator translating everything into Burmese for U Tin Aung.
Surgery was on Wednesday morning. Six hours. Successful.
By Friday, U Tin Aung was walking the corridor with assistance. By the following Monday, he was discharged with a thick folder of post-surgery instructions — translated into Burmese by our team — and prescriptions filled.
The recovery
Ma Ei and her father stayed in Bangkok for an additional ten days for follow-up consultations and to make sure he was stable for the flight home. We arranged the apartment near the hospital, daily check-ins with a Burmese-speaking nurse, and the final clearance appointment.
Three weeks after surgery, U Tin Aung walked through the door of his home in Yangon. Two months later, he sent us a photograph of himself at his granddaughter's birthday — standing, smiling, holding her up.
What we learned
Medical journeys feel impossible until you have a guide. Ma Ei's instinct on day one — to ask for help — was the most important decision she made. Everything else became manageable from there.
If your family is facing something similar, book a free consultation with our team. We'll help you map out the journey, one question at a time.