Infants need funds for surgery

Infants need funds for surgery
By Laviinia Dhanagunan

2008/11/14



KUALA LUMPUR: Two seriously ill infants are depending on the kindness of strangers to help them win their battle to survive. With swollen eyelids and tubes coming out from all over his body, tiny Nik Muhammad Iskandar Ahmad Latiff elicits sympathy from anyone who sees him.The 4-day-old boy, who suffers from "persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn", is the focus of doctors at a hospital here who are struggling to help him breathe.

Since his admission on Monday evening, Nik has been put on respiratory support and nitric oxide in a bid to increase the oxygen supply to his lungs.

His mother, Tengku Aznaini Raja Husin, hovers over her youngest child's hospital bed, watching for positive signs that his lungs are expanding and allowing him to breathe better.

"He was transferred from Selangor Medical Centre as he needed critical care.

"The combination of respiratory support and nitric oxide has so far helped relax his blood vessels and improve the oxygen content in his blood.

"Hopefully, his condition will continue to improve," said the housewife.

However, Nik's father cannot afford the treatment which costs RM35,000 with his monthly salary of RM2,500.

"We hope that the public can help our little boy," said his mother.

Also being treated at the same hospital is 8-month-old Li Mei Yan, from Johor.

The toddler suffers from "pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum" (a condition where the blood vessels to the lungs are completely disconnected from the right side of the heart chamber), and she requires major surgery.

Her parents, a technician and housewife, can only afford RM6,000 of the RM45,000 cost of the operation needed to save their youngest child's life and are appealing to the public for funds.

Li already underwent an operation in April to restore normal blood flow to her heart, but needs to undergo two more procedures.

Those who wish to help Nik and Li can send cheques, made payable to The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, with their names written on the reverse to The Cashier, Finance Department/Charity Unit, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, Balai Berita, 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.
© Copyright 2008 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.