12-year-old Lee Zi Tong has a hole in her heart since she was a baby, but she managed to grow up safe and sound for the past 12 years. However, a sudden discomfort alarmed her as she was told that the hole in her heart could not close by its own and the leaky heart valve would affect her life in the future. She needed a surgery urgently.

Three-week-old baby girl Nur Syakira Inara Binti Mohamad Syahril suffered from infection after she inhaled meconium when she was born, and she was sent to the intensive care unit (ICU) for treatment. Five days later, her heart appeared murmur and examination results showed that she suffers from rare congenital heart disease.

The two girls are not from well-to-do families. Their parents could not afford the huge amount of medical expenses. They pleaded for donations from the public so that their child could receive surgical treatment as soon as possible.

【Case 1: Having a hole in her heart since she was a baby, but gone through a safe 12 years. However, her condition deteriorated recently and was told to undergo surgery as soon as possible】

Lee Zi Tong, the 12-year-old girl from Kulim in Kedah was diagnosed with a hole in her heart when she was born. As the hole was just about 3cm and it was quite small, the doctor believed that the hole could close by its own without needing her to take medicine.

When she attended primary school, a medical officer went to the school to conduct health check on the pupils. After discovering her case, the medical officer requested her parents to bring her to government hospital for follow-up consultations regularly. She was well for many years.

Her mother Ng Phaik Ling said, Zi Tong did not show any heart illness symptoms since she was a baby. Her body did not turn purple, and she did not suffer from shortness of breath. That was why her parents neglected her medical condition.

“About two to three years ago, doctor suggested that we bring her to specialist hospital to get consultation from the child cardiologist, but our family was not rich, and Zi Tong did not show any symptoms, so we decided just to ignore the suggestion and not to bring her to specialist hospital.”

In June this year, Zi Tong was ill and her parents brought her to the hospital for treatment. After conducting electrocardiogram, the doctor brought the parents the bad news – Zi Tong is suffering from leaky heart valve. She was referred to a child cardiologist for further examination, and doctor determined that her condition is serious and needed a heart repair surgery as soon as possible. Or else, it might affect her fertility in the future. The surgical fee is RM70,000 and her family could only afford RM20,000.

Having to face the sudden deterioration of her daughter’s condition, the mother was distraught. She blamed herself for not fulfilling the duty of a mother and neglected the health of her daughter. However, Zi Tong is very thoughtful. She tried her best to comfort her mother and asked her not to worry too much about her condition.

Her 50-year-old father Lee Han Song is a salesman with a basic salary of RM3,800. Her mother Ng Phaik Ling, 48, is a housewife. They also have a 21-year-old daughter (works as a clerk earning about RM1,200 a month), 18-year-old daughter (student) and a 15-year-old son (student). Zi Tong is their youngest daughter.

【Case 2: A newborn girl suffers from rare congenital heart disease and the heart medications she is taking would cause organ failure. She needs a surgery to save her life】

The mother had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, but checks showed that the baby was normal. Nur Syakira Inara was born on June 25. However, the newborn suffered from infection after she inhaled meconium, and was sent to the ICU for emergency treatment.

Five days later, the doctor found out that the baby girl had abnormal breathing and was referred to Penang Hospital, where doctor diagnosed her with truncus arteriosus (TA), a rare type of congenital heart disease, ventricular septal defect (VSD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), among others, and she needed RM80,000 for surgery.

The newborn is currently receiving treatment in the ICU of Alor Setar Hospital. She relies on oxygen aid to breathe, and her heart medications have caused swelling of her liver and lymph nodes, and it may lead to organ failure after some time. She needed an urgent surgery to save her life.

Her 33-year-old father Mohamad Syahril Bin Mohd Zainon is a car mechanic, with a monthly salary of RM1,700, but his income has been affected due to the pandemic. Her mother Sufiah Ruhayani Binti Yahya, 28, is a housewife. They also have a four-year-old son.

The newborn is on breathing support machine and her attending doctor told her parents that a surgery must be arranged as quick as possible. Otherwise, the newborn would suffer not only from heart failure, but her other internal organs would gradually be affected, and would threaten her life.

Her parents have only seen her for two times, and they are so worried about their newborn’s condition. They hope that the public could extend a helping hand to them.

Both families agreed to authorise One Hope Charity to take charge of the fundraising, and collect donations from the public on their behalf.

Family agrees to allow One Hope Charity to take charge of the fundraising and at the same time, accumulating the donations from the public. For enquiries, please contact our careline at 016-4192192 or 019-2322192.