Boy needs aid for transplant

From: The Star

JOHOR BARU: A 10-year-old boy suffering from thalassemia since he was one desperately needs a stem cell transplant.

Liew Chon Kong has been undergoing blood transfusions every month at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital since he was four.

Lam Mei Lin, 37, said Chon Kong, the elder of two sons, has been suffering from constant headaches and extreme fatigue since young.

Painful remedy: Chia (left) showing a medical equipment used by Chon Kong while mother Lam looks on yesterday.

“The doctors have said the best option now is to go for the transplant, as frequent blood transfusions put him at risk of an iron overload.

“Such overload can damage his heart and liver,” she told a press conference organised by Johor MCA Public Complaints Bureau chief Chia Song Cheng.

Lam, an administration officer at a factory, added that none of her family members had matching stem cells.

She had spent more than RM28,000 to search for a match via the Sultanah Aminah Hospital as well other hospitals in Singapore, but to no avail.

“I have since consulted a transplant team at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, who has informed us that they have found a match.

“However, the suitable stem cells as well as the transplant cost about RM350,000 and the surgery is scheduled for October,” she said, adding that her husband was an air-conditioning technician.

Lam added that she had managed to collect RM50,000, but needed help from the public to raise the rest of the amount.

“I appeal to the public for their kindness as my son’s life depends on the surgery,” she said.
Chia hoped people could show their kindness to Chon Kong’s family.

Well-wishers can contact the Johor MCA headquarters at 07-2233915; or write to the party state headquarters at Fifth Floor, Bangunan MCA Negri Johor, Jalan Segget, 80,000 Johor Baru.

Heart Children Need Help

From: NST 21st June 2010

KUALA LUMPUR: Five children, born with complex congenital heart diseases, need to undergo corrective heart operations to lead normal lives.

Six-month-old Ahmad Dhani Aryan Muhammad Sukri has pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum where the blood vessel to the lungs is completely disconnected from the right heart chamber.His father Muhammad Sukri Abdul Aziz, a technician and mother Siti Zuati Jafri, an administrative assistant, have already spent RM25,000 to install a Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt to connect the blood vessel to the upper limb with the blood vessel to the right lung when Ahmad Dhani was a week old last December.

He also underwent an operation to enlarge the connection between the upper chambers of the heart costing RM30,000 at Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Ampang on May 20.

The couple earn a combined income of RM3,310. Sukri said they had no more savings left to pay for the corrective heart operation.Vason Nanda Chandra, 18 months old, underwent an operation to close the holes in his heart on June 10. The operation cost RM30,000.

He now needs corrective heart operation to avoid irreversible lung damage which would predispose him to serious lung infections. He also suffers from Down's syndrome.His mother S. Vijaya Letchumi, 35, a housewife, said her husband Chandra Sena had abandoned them. "My younger sister, earning RM1,000 a month, is supporting us and I receive RM240 from the Welfare Department."

Nineteen-month-old Phang Ker Xing has only one effective pumping heart chamber as well as a hole in her heart. She requires a Glenn shunt operation costing RM40,000 to connect the blood circulation from the upper part of the body to the blood vessel to the lungs in order to reduce the workload of her heart.Her father Phang Wu Thong, 21, a technician earning RM900 and mother Yea Wen Kee, also 21, a customer service executive earning RM1,510, cannot afford to pay for her operation.Vilasnidevi Achu Naidu, 18 months old, the adopted child of part-time lorry driver Annathurai Ratnam, 45, and housewife Minah Ayappan, 25, needs RM41,000 for a Glenn shunt operation to enlarge the connection between her heart's two upper chambers.

Vilasnidevi was born with only one pumping heart chamber, with no connecting valve between the left upper and left lower heart chambers as well as no connection between the blood vessel to the lungs. Kendrick Foo Jia Wee, 2, needs a Glenn shunt operation to repair the narrowing between the left and right blood vessels to the lungs, costing RM36,000.His father Foo Chee Keong, 35, an engineer earning RM3,500 and mother Ng Boon Sin, 27, a sales coordinator earning RM2,300, have already paid RM32,000 for installing two BT shunts to supply extra blood to the lungs.

Those who wish to help these children can send their cheques, with their names written on the back, made payable to The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, to: The Cashier, Finance Department/Charity Unit, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, Balai Berita, No. 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.

Bayi jantung berlubang perlu bantuan RM45,000

Oleh Siti Haliza Yusop

Yusopshyusop@bharian.com.my

KEADAAN Dammea ketika ditemui di Pusat Perubatan Gleneagles Intan, di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR: Seorang bayi perempuan berusia hampir lima bulan, Dammea Darwisya Mohamad Zaki, yang dikesan menghidap jantung berlubang atau kecacatan septum ventrikel (VSD), memerlukan sumbangan RM45,000 sebagai pembayaran pembedahan bagi memperbetulkan kegagalan fungsi jantungnya.

Kata ibunya, Farah Abdillah, 31, penderitaan anak keduanya itu tidak disedari keluarga memandangkan beliau lahir sebagai seorang bayi normal yang sihat dengan berat 3.1 kilogram (kg). “Lubang di jantung Dammea hanya dapat dikesan pada imbasan kali kedua memandangkan kedudukannya agak tersorok ketika diperiksa pada kali pertama.

Bagaimanapun, sebelum itu, doktor sudah mengesan keganjilan apabila jantung dan paru-paru kirinya didapati membesar, “Sejak dikesan menghidap VSD, Dammea lebih banyak menghabiskan masa di hospital,” katanya yang berasal dari Kuching, Sarawak. Farah yang kini bercuti tanpa gaji sejak November lalu bagi membolehkannya memberi tumpuan kepada Dammea berkata, doktor memaklumkan pembedahan berkenaan diperlukan bagi memperbaiki saluran injap bayinya itu.

“Walaupun saya diberitahu pembedahan ini berisiko, namun sebagai seorang ibu, saya mahu melakukan yang terdaya buat Dammea kerana kasihan terpaksa melihat beliau berhadapan dengan masalah kesihatan pada usia sekecil itu.

“Bayangkan, bagaimana perasaan saya sebagai seorang ibu apabila melihat sendiri kesakitan Dammea yang sering tercungap-cungap, tidak aktif seperti bayi seusianya dan saiz badan yang semakin mengecil disebabkan penyakit ini,” katanya ketika ditemui di Pusat Perubatan Gleneagles Intan, Jalan Ampang, di sini, semalam.

Farah memaklumkan, beliau dan suami, Mohamad Zaki Bustahar, memohon keprihatinan masyarakat negara ini memandangkan tidak mampu menyediakan jumlah yang diperlukan bagi pembedahan itu. “Pada masa ini, suami hanya bekerja sendiri dengan pendapatan kurang RM1,000 dan saya pula sudah beberapa bulan bercuti tanpa gaji bagi memberi perhatian kepada penjagaan Dammea,” katanya. Sebelum dipindahkan ke Gleneagles, Dammea menjalani rawatan di Hospital Sarawak (SGH) saja.

Orang ramai yang bersimpati dengan penderitaan bayi itu boleh menyalurkan bantuan kepada Berita Harian dengan menulis nama penerima di belakang cek dan dialamatkan ke Bahagian Kewangan/Unit Kebajikan, NSTP, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.

Grant Them Their Wish

From: NST Online

KAJANG: Slow learner Abdul Wafi Md Yunus, 24, loves to play bocce, a game similar to lawn bowls, and wishes that he has a new pair of jogging shoes.

This is because he believes he has a better chance of qualifying for the "Special Olympic National Games" with them. The games will be held in Perak in June next year.

Bocce is played on natural soil or asphalt courts while lawn bowls is played on grass or synthetic surfaces.Wafi is one of 13 students involved in the open employment programme conducted by the Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Istimewa in Kajang. He packages straws for a beverage company.

Housewife Aznita Md Noor wants a new toy for her son, Ahmad Taufiq Abdullah, 5, who is autistic. She said it would help him improve his concentration and motor skills. Taufiq is also attending special classes run by the association.

Wafi and Taufiq are among the 336 children and adults chosen to take part in the "Grant A Wish on Children's Day 2009" project initiated by Rainbow of Life Forces (Rolf) to help the disabled and those with learning disabilities.The project, which began on Sept 1, will end on Nov 15.

Rolf works with non-governmental organisations in the country to raise funds for various projects.In this project, a person gets a wish and the public can play the role of genie by granting them that wish. New Straits Times is the official media partner of the project.

Project manager Fong Chuang Boon said the wish list was a unique way for donors to help the less fortunate. "Those who would like to donate can go to our website and fill in a form. Donors can choose any of the charity houses listed and purchase items based on the wish list.

"Rolf will inform them of the date of the gift presentation," said Fong, adding that all forms must be submitted before Oct 15.The forms can be obtained at www.rolfcommunity.org. Rolf can be contacted at 03-5636 6821 or 019-272 0999.

Send an SMS and make a RM1 donation

From: NST Online

2009/10/08
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians wishing to donate to the Typhoon Ketsana, tsunami and earthquake fund can now do so through a simple way -- through SMS.

Celcom Berhad, a subsidiary of Axiata Group, is offering its SMS services in an effort to allow more people to donate towards the Tabung Bencana NSTP-Media Prima. Axiata group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jamaludin Ibrahim said the SMS campaign was launched at the group level by all its subsidiaries, namely, XL in Indonesia and M1 in Singapore.

"This is the first time Axiata Group has launched a coordinated group-wide SMS campaign. We hope that Celcom, M1 and XL users would donate generously," he said after handing over a cheque for RM200,000 to Media Prima news and editorial operations executive director Datuk Ahmad A. Talib for the Tabung Bencana NSTP-Media Prima at Balai Berita here yesterday.

Celcom Berhad chief executive officer, Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly said Celcom users nationwide would soon be informed of the SMS donation drive. He added the campaign would run for a month from yesterday. To make an SMS donation, Celcom's Postpaid and Prepaid customers will have to type "Derma" and send it to 21999. Each SMS is worth RM1. There is no SMS fee and all proceeds will go directly to the Tabung Bencana fund, said Shazalli.

Meanwhile, Anar Paper Co Sdn Bhd contributed RM5,000 towards the fund yesterday. Those who wish to contribute can donate via maybank2u.com, Maybank ATM, cash deposit machines, cheque deposit machines, Kawanku phone banking and at branch counters nationwide to Maybank account number: 514105-320757.

All cheques should be made payable to "Tabung Bencana NSTP-Media Prima". Donations can also be sent to the Cashier, NSTP, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100, Kuala Lumpur or dropped off at the guard house at the above address.

1Malaysia Earthquake Fund for Asia launched

From The Star

PORT DICKSON: RTM and international aid organisation Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM) have launched the 1Malaysia Earthquake Fund for Asia, said Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

“With a network of 100 branches in 40 countries, including in Indonesia, there is no question of IRM’s commitment to humanitarian causes,” said Dr Rais.

He urged Malaysians to donate generously to the fund via cheques or by direct deposit into Maybank account 5621 4270 8704 or CIMB account 1259 0000 804 058.

Further information can be obtained by at the IRM’s website (www.irm.org.my).

“The above information will also be broadcasted on RTM’s channels in the form of crawlers and donation boxes placed at strategic places nationwide,” said Dr Rais said at the launching of the fund at the Information Department’s Media Centre for the Bagan Pinang by-election here yesterday.

The public can also donate to the CIMB-The Star Padang Relief Fund which was launched on Friday.

CIMB Group has donated RM100,000 to kick-start the fund which was set up in collaboration with The Star. The CIMB Foundation will match donations from the public ringgit for ringgit up to RM1mil.

Collection boxes will be placed at the group’s 1,150 branches in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand and at Menara Star.

Customers, corporations and the public can also make donations via cheque or online banking to two collection accounts.

Write your cheques out to the CIMB-The Star Padang Relief Fund and bank them into account numbers 1408 6620 56 (CIMB Bank) or 1404 0000 4891 03 (CIMB Islamic).

12 Beradik Hilang Tempat Bergantung

" Kalau ayah meninggal, ayah harap sangat doa dari anak-anak yang soleh mendoakan ayah..." ucap Abdul Karim Abd Aziz , 51 kepada anak keempatnya , Imanina Abdul Karim , 19 , sehari sebelum beliau terkorban dalam satu kemalangan ngeri di Lebuh Raya Persekutuan , berhampiran Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya pagi Ahad lalu 30 August 2009.

Imtinan yang ditemui dirumahnya di No 40 Jalan KM3 , Darul Hidayah , 43100 Hulu Langat , Selangor berkata , mereka sekeluarga tidak menyangka pesanan ayahnya itu menjadi kenyataan .

Dalam tragedi tersebut , Abdul Karim memandu kereta perodua kancil maut apabila kenderaannya dirempuh sebuah treler dari arah bertentangan. Abdul Karim yang bekerja sendiri , meninggal dunia ditempat kejadian akibat parah di kepala dan badan manakala isterinya , Maimon Said , 52 dan anak lelakinya , Mohd Ihsan yang berada dalam kereta itu turut parah. Maimon dan Mohd Ihsan dirawat di PPUM dan mereka berdua yang koma semasa kemalangan tersedar pagi selasa lalu .

Abdul Karim meninggalkan dua belas anak yang berusia antara 9 hingga 24 tahun , Sementara itu Imtinan yang terpaksa mengambil alih tugas untuk menjaga adaik-adiknya berkata , beliau reda dengan nasib yang menimpa mereka sekeluarga. Beliau yang berkerja sebagai guru di sebuah sekolah agama rakyat , dekat sini berkata biarpun gajinya lebih kurang RM1000 beliau akan cuba sedaya upaya menjaga adik-adiknya. Memanglah selama ini kami adik-beradik bergantung penuh kepada ayah, baik duit belanja ataupun menghantar adik-beradik kesekolah dan sebaginya. Lagipun nasib umi (ibunya) tidak tahu lagi sebab dia pun serius juga, ujarnya dengan nada sedih. Malah katanya beliau tidak mahu adik-adiknya tercicir dalam pelajaran walaupun terpaksa menyara enam lagi adik-adiknya yang masih bersekolah. Katanya , selagi termampu beliau akan menjaga adik-adiknya biarpun masih kabur untuk mencari wang secukupnya.

Disaat ini juga katanya , beliau belum terfikir untuk membuat persiapan menyambut kedatangan Adilfitri tidak lama lagi. Beliau berkata, ini termasuklah baju raya adik-adiknya belum dibeli lagi .. "tidak tahulah sama mampu beli ataupun tidak kerana sebelum ini ayah yang belikan dan biasanya ayah beli pada akhir Ramadhan,"ujarnya sambil merenung adik-adiknya. bahkan ujarnya , mungkin mereka adik-beradik tidak dapat balik kampung di Lenggung Perak pada hari raya ini. "macam mana nak balik kereta kancil ayah remuk sama sekali dan kami pun ramai. Mereka terdiri daripada , Imtinan ,24 , Ibtihal 23, Inshyirah , 21, Izyani , 18 , Ilhamina , 17 , Ibtisam , 17 , Ibtihaj , 16 , Ismahani , 15 , Mohd Ikram 14 , dan Imtiyaz , 9 tahun. Sementara seorang lagi adiknya , Imanina, 19 berada di PPUM menjaga ibu dan adiknya, Mohd Ihsan 11 tahun yang terlibat dalam kemalangan tersebut,

Setiap kali kakak mereka bercerita mengenai ayahnya masing-masing bergenangan air mata. paling tersentuh apabila melihat Mohd Ikram yang diapit kakak dan adik-adiknya tidak dapat mengeluarkan sepatah kata pun apabila ditanya mengenai cita-citanya. Beliau terus menundukkan kepala beberapa ketika bagi menahan sebaknya . Pelajar Maahad Tahfiz , Batu 16 , Ulu Langat ini hanya mampu memandang keluarganya dengan penuh sayu sambil menyapu air matanya. Ketika ini juga adik-adiknya yang lain termasuk neneknya berlinangan air mata melihat kesedihan dan keshahduan Ikram.

Dalam pada itu, Inshyirah yang mengambil upah menjahit baju , berkata beliau akan mencari pekerjaan lain untuk membantu adik-adiknya . Beliau yang menetap bersama neneknya di Perak berkata , tidak akan membiarkan adik-adiknya susah, yang penting persekolahan mereka dan ayah pun sebelum ini bersengkang mata untuk menyara kami,"katanya.

Sementara itu sesiapa yang ingin menyumbang kepada keluarga anak yatim tersebut bolehlah menghulur bantuan menerusi akaun bank INSHYIRAH ABDUL KARIM : 158136726121 MAYBANK