PETALING JAYA: A total of 12 beneficiaries of a charity programme were seen smiling from ear to ear at the Sunway Wildlife Park today.
The children, aged between two and 10 comprised those who have recovered from congenital heart defects and were part of a programme called “A-Heart for A-Heart”.
Their treatments were financed with assistance from Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur and the Media Prima-New Straits Times Press (NSTP) Humanitarian Fund.
It was an exciting outing for the children, who were accompanied by their parents and siblings.
Muhammad Alif Daneil Mohd Faisal, 5, was among those who spent the day exploring and learning about animals at the Wildlife Park.
Alif was born with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD), a rare form of congenital heart disease where all four pulmonary veins drain to the systemic venous circulation.
The third child of four siblings had his first operation when he was just one-month old.
The boy’s father Mohd Faisal Shaharun, 42, said doctors detected complications when his son was an infant.
“He was born at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Then the doctor told us that he had to go under the knife as soon as possible due to his condition.
“He gave us three suggestions where we can get treatment. One of them was Gleneagles Hospital, and the doctors over there told us that we could get funders to raise money for the operation which cost RM40,000.
“We sent him to Gleneagles and they did the surgery after some examinations. However, the symptoms returned when he was two and he had to go through another operation. Again, we managed to get help from Gleneagles and we also got help from the Media Prima–NSTP Humanitarian Fund.”
Faisal described the financial aid as a wonderful present for him and his family.
“We were depressed when we first found out about Alif’s condition. We did not know where to get help and we are not able to fork out the costs for the operation.”
When talking about the outing, the father of four said that Alif was excited as he woke up early to prepare for the event.
Another beneficiary, Yean Wen Yee, 9, from Johor Baru also started her journey to Kuala Lumpur hours before dawn.
Her parents Yee Fook Yen, 58, and Rawipha Saesin, 38, said they never missed the annual programme whenever they received the invitation.
“We drove from Johor Baru at 3.20am today and we will go back after the event because Wen Yee has to attend a Children’s Day celebration at school tomorrow.“
Wen Yee had transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect - a hole in the heart - which led to her undergoing two major surgeries at ages one and eight.
“We received the aid when Wen Yee had her first Fontan operation when she was one-year-old plus. At that time, the operation fee was about RM50,000. We got half from the Media Prima–NSTP Humanitarian Fund and the other half from another newspaper agency.
“Her second Fontan operation was last year, when she was eight. That time, we get another RM80,000 for the operation.
“We are really grateful for the help we received. Since then, we will come to Kuala Lumpur every time we receive the invitation for the programme,” Fook Yen said.
Fontan surgery is a type of open-heart surgery to make blood from the lower part of the body go directly to the lungs. This lets the blood pick up oxygen without having to pass through the heart.
Present at the event were Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur chief executive officer Hoo Ling Lee and Media Prima Group Corporate Governance Department manager Muhammad Nazim Ismail.
Hoo said although the programme started since the inception of the “A-Heart for A-Heart” initiative in 1996, it was the first time it was held outdoors.
“It is good that we gather the families again. As I speak to them, I realised some of them need further help. When I speak to them and by looking in their eyes, I know the child is not healthy.
“When I ask, I find out that the child’s condition has worsened. After checking with my staff, they said they have been calling but they failed to turn up for check-ups. Some parents will tell the hospital that they are busy and thought that their kids are in good condition.
“Today, we identified at least two children who need further help. When we bring them back, we can conduct checks and find out what help they need.”
Hoo said some parents worry about costs of treatment.
“But I tell them it is okay. After they have the consultation with the doctor, if they need help, we will put them on the ‘A-Heart for A-Heart’ programme and look for a funder,” she said.