“As a nurse, the health condition of my family members is always my priority. My mother was healthy and did not suffer from any illness. And now, she has had a sudden stroke and needs urgent surgery to continue her life. I am shocked and helpless.”

A 58-year-old woman, Mallika A/P Arumugam from Sungai Bakap in Penang, collapsed outside the toilet a few days ago. She was conscious, but her hands and legs were weak, and her mouth dropped to one side. Her husband found out when he returned from the clinic, and her neighbour called an ambulance to rush her to the hospital.

Her 30-year-old eldest daughter is a nurse. She said after an examination, the doctor discovered her mother’s cerebral blood vessels were blocked. The doctor tried thrombolysis, but it was not effective. She was referred to the only specialist hospital in Northern Malaysia with a Mechanical Thrombectomy facility for surgery. The family sold their gold jewellery, but they could only afford RM10,000. They asked for help to pay for the shortfall of RM55,000 in surgical expenses.

【She cared for her two-year-old grandson alone when she suffered a stroke. She did not respond to her grandson, so the little boy could only cry helplessly】

The day before she suffered a stroke, Mallika complained to her eldest daughter that she had headaches. At that time, her daughter measured her blood pressure and oxygen; the readings were regular. She had no serious illness previously and cared for her grandson at home.

Her eldest daughter said she would video call her mother at 9:00 every mother. In the morning, when her mother collapsed, she called her mother as usual, and her mother had already prepared breakfast and waited for her son to wake up while her father went to the clinic to get medicine.

“Unexpectedly, at around 9:30 am, when my father returned home, he saw his grandson sitting in the living room crying very sadly. My dad later discovered my mom had collapsed in front of the toilet. Her hands and legs were weak, her mouth drooped, and she could not speak.”

She said her father called an ambulance and sent her mother to Sungai Bakap Hospital. After a preliminary examination, the doctor later referred her to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for a thorough test, and she was confirmed with a stroke. The doctor provided her with medicine, but it did not help. Therefore, the doctor referred her to the only specialist hospital in the northern region for Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Mallika is a housewife. She had diabetes and high blood pressure about a decade ago and has been to the hospital for regular follow-up visits. Her condition is under control.

Her 68-year-old husband, Augamuthu A/L Kuppusamy, had diabetes, high blood pressure, knee pain and heart problems. He retired from his job as a security guard two years ago. The couple has two children; their eldest daughter is a nurse, earning RM3,000 a month. After divorcing her husband, she brought her two-year-old son and returned to her parent’s home. Their 29-year-old son is a factory operator with a salary of RM1,800.

It is an urgent application. One Hope Charity reviewed and approved the case immediately so that the patient could undergo surgery before launching fundraising. One Hope Charity decided to raise RM55,000. Her family agreed to fully authorise One Hope Charity to take charge of the fundraising and collect donations from the well-wishers on their behalf. Call One Hope Charity’s hotline at 04-539 9212, 016-419 2192, 019-232 2192 or 018-911 4192 if you have questions.