KUALA LUMPUR: A single mother is appealing for donations to help her son walk again after his leg had to be amputated earlier this year.
R. B. Mageswari, 49, said that her 15-year-old son, A. Bala Chantran was complaining of backpain in April this year and she brought him to a local clinic.
They sent him home as they suspected that he was only suffering from a muscle pain.
However, several days later she found out her son was actually suffering from appendicitis and immediately admitted him to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM).
She was told that her son's appendix had ruptured and the infection had spread throughout the body.
He spent about two months in serious condition at PPUM's intensive care unit (ICU). He was then transferred to the normal ward where Mageswari was told the shocking news.
"They said the infection was still detected on his right knee... and the doctor said his leg had to be amputated, if not it will be life threatening," she said when speaking via Google Meet today.
The teenager was a fit and active boy until this unfortunate incident.
He was active in his school, spent time playing football which he was passionate about, and also learned taekwondo.
When his mother told him about the procedure to remove his leg, he was devastated.
He kept asking how would he be able to play football again, or even face his friends with the amputated leg.
However, it is a decision his mother had to take and she gave the nod to doctors.
Since the procedure, he was moving around at home using a walker and if he went outside, he would use a wheelchair.
The single mother works as a babysitter at home during the day and at Domino's Pizza in the evening part time.
"After my son's amputation, I had to quit my job at Domino's Pizza and focus on taking care of him while doing my babysitting job at home," she said.
Bala Chantran has three elder sisters, one of whom is working while the other two are still studying at polytechnics, and another brother who is in Form 5 this year.
Though the mother only earns around RM800 monthly from babysitting, she tries to manage the family expenses.
Now she is seeking donations to purchase a prosthetic leg for her son so he can walk again.
The prosthetic leg is estimated to cost RM11,350.00.
Those who wish to donate can send cheques made payable to the Media Prima-New Straits Times Press (NSTP) Humanitarian Fund with the patient's name written on the reverse side of the cheque and addressed to Group Strategic Communications Department, Media Prima Berhad, Level 4, Anjung Riong, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
The public may also send their donations to Maybank account number 5141-0532-3170.