*RM10,000 from the “Emergency Medical Reserve Fund” has been channelled. Hence, One Hope Charity will only launch a fundraising of RM69,000 for this case.*

A White Curry Mee stall selling for nearly 30 years has attracted customers from different places to Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It is because the hot, spicy and delicious noodles not only carry the flavour of Penang but also represent the good relationship of a father and son. However, the stall has not been operating recently, and the customers who went there had to return with disappointment. Some regular customers worried about the father and son, so they called the son and later learnt that the father was in poor health.

72-year-old Teh Soo Keong has often felt stomach discomfort since the middle of the year. He went to the clinic to see a doctor and took medicine, but he did not recover. He still has difficulty defecating and urinating smoothly. Even if he takes laxatives, the medicine would only be effective for a few days and then return to his original condition. The doctor felt that his condition seemed to be unusual for abdominal pain or constipation and referred him to a hospital for a speculum examination.

The test report confirmed that he had rectal cancer. The tumour had severely blocked his intestines, which affected his defecation. The cancer cells also showed signs of spreading to the liver. However, the doctor believed that his condition was still treatable. He can undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy to shrink the tumour. The doctor also suggested he evaluate the condition of the tumour before considering a resection surgery.

His 47-year-old son, Teh Boon Chong, who lives with him, was shocked when he received his father’s test report. However, he tried to calm down as soon as possible because he had to take care of his sick father and also look for money for his father’s treatment.

【The father experienced weight loss, loss of appetite and trouble falling asleep. The son can only watch his elderly father suffer from the disease】

The father and son have been selling White Curry Mee at SS2 in Petaling Jaya since the 1990s. From cooking the soup to preparing the chilli paste, they are all made by hand. They are never sloppy about the ingredients and taste so that their customers can enjoy the dish.

Boon Chong said they came to Selangor from Penang after learning how to make Curry Mee and later improvised it to their unique taste, which successfully won the hearts of their customers. Unfortunately, his father fell ill. He cannot complete the jobs of preparing ingredients, cooking, selling and collecting money on his own, so he has to close the stall temporarily while his father receives treatment. He also needs to care for his father wholeheartedly.

Their income has been affected since then, and Boon Chong can only watch helplessly as his father’s weight drops. He is worried as his father has a poor appetite, experiencing difficulty falling asleep, fatigue and stomach discomfort.

“I can sense that my father is in pain and discomfort. Giving him painkillers is not the best way. He needs detailed examination, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. However, I can’t afford the fees.”

The father and son previously made about RM5,000 a month, but they had little left after paying rental, utility bills, transportation fees and other living expenses.

After reviewing the case following a home visit, One Hope Charity decided to assist Soo Keng in raising the medical expenses he needed. His 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.