“My daughter was born and returned home for 16 days before she was admitted to the hospital due to breathing difficulty. The doctor told us that she had a severe heart defect and needed surgery within two weeks. Otherwise, her life would be in danger. Please save our daughter!”

Tanussa Sri A/P Selan from Kamunting, Perak, was born on 16 January. She only spent 16 days at home. Later, her parents sent her to the hospital as she did not drink milk for a whole day, coupled with vomiting, fatigue and breathing difficulty. An examination confirmed that she had holes in her heart and a narrowed aorta. If she did not undergo surgery soon, her heart would gradually fail, and she might die.

This case is a race against time. The girl’s parents are heartbroken and hoping for RM65,000 in medical expenses to save their child.

【The child kept crying because of heart disease. Her exhausted parents looked at their child and swallowed their sorrow. They just hoped that their child could undergo surgery as soon as possible and grow up safely and healthily】

The mother had gestational diabetes when she was pregnant with her first child. She also suffered the same problem when she had the second child. However, examination showed that her baby was normal. Her second child was born at full term at Taiping Hospital, and the doctor discharged the baby after three days.

Sixteen days after returning home, the baby girl suddenly refused to drink milk all day. She looked tired and had difficulty breathing. Her parents felt something amiss and rushed her to the emergency department. The baby girl was admitted to the intensive care unit, and a preliminary examination revealed that she had holes in her heart. Her heart was also swollen. She relied on oxygen assistance and stayed in the hospital for more than two weeks.

The doctor later conducted a detailed examination at the general hospital, and the result showed that the baby had three holes in her heart, with sizes of 0.23cm, 0.36cm and 0.38cm. However, the doctor told the parents they could wait for the holes to close. The most critical problems the baby girl was facing at present were the coarctation of the aorta (CoA) and the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). She needed surgery before her heart failed. Otherwise, she might not be living long.

The baby weighed 3.19kg at birth but is now only 3.5kg. The heart defect has caused the baby girl to grow slowly. The doctor suggested using a catheter to prevent her from spending too much energy drinking milk.

The doctor informed the parents that they needed to deal with the cardiovascular stenosis first, and the surgery must be done within two weeks. Otherwise, her heart might fail, resulting in death. However, her parents were helpless as they could not afford the RM65,000 in surgical fees.

Her 29-year-old father, Selan A/L Siva, is a driver for a recycling centre, earning about RM2,000 a month. Her 29-year-old mother, Punitha A/P Sigamani, was a glove factory operator before marriage with a salary of RM1,200. She became a housewife after getting married. The couple has a five-year-old daughter with hearing impairment.

The poor parents had no means but to ask for help. After reviewing the case, One Hope Charity decided to assist in raising the medical expenses. The girl’s parents 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.