KOTA KINABALU: A young family is facing a heartbreaking situation as their toddler has been diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer.
Riksi Tahir, a 25-year-old auxiliary fire officer from Kota Marudu, shared that his 1-year and 7-month-old daughter, Daneen Auni, is currently undergoing treatment at the Sabah Women and Children's Hospital in Likas.
His wife, Fallarystia Sintom, 24, first noticed something was amiss with Daneen in August.
"For the past two months, she hasn't been herself," Fallarystia explained.
"She became less active and started suffering from severe constipation.
"We took her to Kota Marudu Hospital multiple times for her constipation. Recently, however, her blood (hemoglobin) level dropped."
Daneen needed a blood transfusion, and after further examinations, she was transferred to the Sabah Women and Children's Hospital here.
Doctors there found and removed a 13.5 cm tumour on her ovary.
Daneen is expected to begin chemotherapy once she recovers from surgery.
The couple, also have a 4-year-old son with autism.
We hope that with the public's support and prayers, Allah SWT will grant our child strength and healing," Fallarystia added.
She said that the hospital could not confirm the cost of the treatment but the cost of travelling between Kota Marudu and the hospital here was expected to strain the family financially.