KUALA LUMPUR: Parents of a one-month-old baby are appealing to the public for donations to allow him undergo an open heart surgery.
Baby Muhammad Faiq Muhammad Azhar, who was born on Jan 7, was diagnosed with Coarctation of the Aorta (Co-Ao), a congenital heart defect of severe narrowing of the aorta, and Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), commonly known as hole-in-the-heart, when he was eight days old.
Faiq’s medical condition has caused breathing difficulties and disrupted blood circulation. The one-month-old baby is depending on life support until today.
According to the baby’s father, Mohd Azhar Yusoff, 43, his son appeared normal during routine pregnancy screening until he was born.
“There was nothing unusual during pregnancy and at birth. My wife gave birth just in time, and my baby appeared normal at birth too.
“We were allowed to go home after assuring that everything is okay. But on Jan 14, the day he turned seven days old, we noticed something was off,” he said.
The 43-year-old welder said Faiq had been crying non-stop and he was sweating.
“When I held him and tried to calm him down, I feel his body temperature was slightly colder, but he was sweating profusely.
“He kept refusing milk, as he constantly regurgitated it each time my wife tried to breastfeed him. After numerous attempts to calm him down, I noticed my son started to look pale and his body was cold. My wife and I immediately rushed him to the Dabong Health Clinic.”
The father of six said upon arriving at the clinic, the doctor informed them of his heart condition.
“He was in a severe metabolic acidosis state which explained the symptoms of irritability that he had been showing,” he said, adding that Faiq was immediately intubated and rushed to the Kuala Krai Hospital.
Azhar said his son was admitted into the intensive unit care (ICU) as soon as they reached the hospital about 1am, and was later told that Faiq had to be transferred to the Kota Bharu Hospital, as they had paediatric specialists to attend to his son.
“I could see how heartbroken my wife was when the specialists confirmed that Faiq had VSD. And, he was only one-week-old at that time.”
Faiq was later referred to the Gleanegles Kuala Lumpur, where Azhar and wife, Marliza Mat Piah @ Mahmood were told that their son must undergo surgery immediately.
The open heart surgery, which is to cut off the narrowed segment of his aorta and joint back the big vessel, and to also close the hole in his heart, will cost the couple RM80,000 and they need the public’s help on this.
Those who wish to help can send cheques made payable to the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund with the patient’s name written on the reverse side of the cheque and addressed to: Group Corporate Communications Department, Media Prima Bhd, Level 1, Anjung Riong, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
The public may also send their donations to Maybank current account number 5141-0532-3170 and indicate the patient’s name on the Recipients Reference or Other Payment Details field.