“We waited day and night hoping he would recover after the surgery and be discharged in a few days. But now with the new complications, we visit him every day with tears in our eyes. All we want is for our baby to be strong and keep fighting.”

Muhammad Habib Ajmal bin Nur Aiman, a two-month-old baby from Kepala Batas, Penang, was diagnosed at birth with a severe and complex congenital heart condition. He underwent an emergency surgery before full term to save his life. However, he later developed pleural effusion which led to chylothorax. Despite a month of hospitalization and medical treatment, there has been no improvement.

Doctors have now recommended a second open-chest surgery to repair the damaged thoracic duct. The estimated cost is RM40,000. The parents had already borrowed RM20,000 for the first surgery and have exhausted all means. As the baby’s condition becomes critical, our foundation is launching a second round of fundraising in hopes of saving his life.

【Chylothorax is a serious condition. If left untreated, it may cause respiratory failure, malnutrition, immunosuppression, and can even be fatal】

At birth, the baby had a weak heartbeat and was rushed to the NICU for oxygen support. He was later diagnosed with multiple congenital heart defects: Double Outlet Right Ventricle with Transposition of the Great Arteries and Sub-pulmonic VSD (DORV/TGA/Sub-pulmonic VSD), Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA), and Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). Surgery was needed within three weeks of birth.

After assessment, One Hope Charity launched a fundraiser on May 12 this year to cover the surgery costs. The hospital scheduled the operation on May 17, which was successfully carried out over ten and a half hours. Following the surgery, the baby was transferred to the intensive care unit for monitoring and was later moved to a government hospital, where he remains under observation to this day.

Due to heart swelling, his wound closure was delayed until May 23. On May 27, he was transferred to the general ward and was expected to be discharged within a few days. Unfortunately, his condition worsened. Two weeks later, he developed breathing difficulties due to pleural effusion and was readmitted to the ICU. Doctors administered medication and performed surgery to drain the fluid, later confirming that the complication had developed into chylothorax.

Chylothorax refers to the accumulation of chyle in the chest cavity. Chyle is a fat-rich lymphatic fluid that originates from dietary fat absorption in the digestive tract. When the thoracic duct or its branches are damaged or blocked, chyle leaks into the pleural space (the area between the lungs and chest wall), leading to pressure on vital organs like the heart and lungs. If left untreated, it can result in severe complications or death.

The baby’s condition has been unpredictable. At one point, pus blocked his surgical drainage tube, and another procedure was needed to clear it. Despite undergoing various treatments, his condition has not improved. Doctors finally concluded that surgery is required to tie off the leaking thoracic duct and resolve the pleural effusion. With no financial resources left, the parents turned to our foundation for help.

The baby’s father, Nur Aiman bin Abdul Razak (26), works as a digital sales supervisor earning RM3,500 a month. His mother, Syafiqah bt Mohd Senusi (25), is a housewife. They also have a 3-year-old son.

After a thorough home assessment, One Hope Charity has agreed to raise the required medical expenses for Muhammad Habib Ajmal. For any inquiries, please contact our hotline at 04-539 9212, 016-4192 192, 019-2322 192, or 018-911 4192.