“The hole in my heart is expanding, flooding my lungs with blood and fluid, which affected my lung function and made my breathing difficult. The doctor told me not to delay for more than half a year. If I don’t go for surgery, my lungs will gradually necrosis.”

19-year-old Puah Chiaw Lee has suffered from atrial septal defect (ASD), a congenital heart disease, since young. The doctor did not rule out that it was caused by chickenpox during her mother’s pregnancy. The hospital put her heart surgery on hold as she was born underweight. Although she had a hole in the heart, it didn’t have much impact on her growth process, except that she could not take part in high-intensity sports and exercises at school.

She has been going to the hospital for follow-up visits. When she was 13, the doctor told her that the hole in her heart was slightly enlarged and suggested she undergo surgery two years later. However, she didn’t experience any symptoms then, so she did not consider the surgery.

After graduating from secondary school, Chiaw Lee wanted to continue her studies, but further studies might increase the financial burden on her family. Therefore, she decided to work first to save money for her education. Chiaw Lee planned to seek a job in Singapore. However, during a health examination early this year, Chiaw Lee noticed that her heart had deteriorated and needed surgery as soon as possible. The teenage girl quickly went to a local hospital for further tests, and the doctor told her the hole in her heart was expanding. She needed an Amplatzer for her ASD closure surgery.

【The pain and frequency of angina are increasing day by day】

Although she considered the urgency of surgery, her family did not have extra money to pay for the surgery. Therefore, she decided to work at a tuition centre near her house. Unexpectedly, the pain and frequency of angina increased during that period.

Considering the heavy workload and pressure, she later changed her job to become a customer service officer in a company. The discomfort in the heart became lesser after that. However, she could not ignore her health condition, as she would be out of breath after walking for a few steps. She earns about RM2,500 a month, but she and her family can hardly afford the substantial surgical expenses.

Chiaw Lee’s 51-year-old father, Puah Thiam Huat, used to be a wholesaler of prayer items, but his business plummeted during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period. He then became an e-hailing driver, earning about RM1,800 a month. Her 48-year-old mother, Lim Siao Ching, sells breakfast at a coffee shop, making RM2,000 monthly. The couple has a 22-year-old son, who is working abroad but lost contact with the family, and a 14-year-old daughter who is still in secondary school.

The family’s income is sufficient only to maintain their monthly expenses. It is hard for them to raise RM50,000 for surgery in a short period.

After reviewing the case following a home visit, One Hope Charity decided to assist Chiaw Lee in raising RM50,000 so that she could receive treatment soon. 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.