The mother's name is Daw Yee Yee Hlaing, and she is 43 years of age. A divorcèe, she lives with her mother, sisters, two sons and daughter in Taungoo town.
"I was really frightened when I heard from my relatives that my ex-husband suffered from AIDS," she explained. "I went quietly to get tested to find out whether I had HIV or not, but I did not let my family know that I tested positive".
She said that she didn't give any further attention to her health until she became seriously ill from TB. Her sister, who lives in Mandalay, brought her Mandalay General Hospital (MGH) to get medical assistance, and she was hospitalised in July 2012. Fortunately, she was able to register with the IHC clinic through the help of MGH and started ART treatment in August 2012.
With a broad hopeful smile she said, "I am now alive instead of dying, due to the support of IHC programme of The Union. Thanks a lot to The Union and its donors".
Her dream is when she gets well and back to normal, she will be able to get a job to take care of her children.
Sagar Wah Hlaing, the 14-year-old daughter of Daw Yee Yee Hlaing, is very willing to help her mother, who is not very well and affected by HIV. She said: "I am not afraid of this disease. I love my mother and I am happy to care for her when she needs help. My wish for my mother is to become a healthy woman, so she can prepare the lunch boxes for us when we go to school." Sagar Wah Hlaing attends ninth Standard (Grade 9) at the local high school, and her dream is to become an engineer.
Photos and story by Lwin Lwin Thant