TANAH MERAH: "Alhamdulillah, it has been six years since I shared my liver with my youngest son, who was previously diagnosed with Biliary Atresia or liver failure since birth," said Noorinie Stofar.
Noorinie, 37, said she donated a portion of her liver to her son, Muhammad Fakhri Hakim Mohd Fazli, who is now eight years old.
"In March 2018, I donated 20 per cent of my liver to Muhammad Fakri Hakim, and we successfully underwent the liver transplant surgery at Renji Hospital in Shanghai, China, when he was one year and four months old."
"After the liver transplant surgery, my son has to rely on medication for the rest of his life and undergo follow-up treatments every four months at the University Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM) in Kuala Lumpur to monitor his health progress," she said when met at her home in Kampung Batu 11.
Earlier, the family received a visit from the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Kelab Kebajikan dan Sukarelawan Sosial (KELSS), led by the head of Media and Communications Unit, Akidi Hamid.
Recounting her son's condition at that time, Noorinie said that at 40 days old, Muhammad Fakhri Hakim underwent the Kasai Procedure at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (HRPZII) to remove his entire bile ducts.
"However, the surgery was unsuccessful, which meant my son had to undergo a liver transplant to save his life and prevent more serious complications. My husband, Mohd Fazil Othman, 40, and I agreed to donate a portion of our liver to Muhammad Fakhri Hakim. After the examination, I was relieved and grateful when my liver was found to be compatible with our son," she said.
She added that she was aware of the high risk of donating a portion of her liver to Muhammad Fakhri Hakim, but she was willing to do anything to see her son recover.
"At that time, my son's physical condition was not like other babies, as his body was thin, his stomach was bloated, and his skin and eyes were yellow. I could not bear to see Muhammad Fakhri Hakim's suffering and was willing to donate a portion of my liver to ensure he could live a normal life like other children.
"Alhamdulillah, with the help of NGOs and caring Malaysians, we managed to raise RM250,000 for the surgery. Without the public's donations, this surgery might not have been possible," she said.
The mother of two said that initially, doctors informed her that her son might experience complications after the surgery, but due to the efforts made, Muhammad Fakhri Hakim no longer suffers from pain.
"As a mother, my efforts to fight for Muhammad Fakhri Hakim were not in vain, as his health has improved even though he was diagnosed with autism at four years old and cannot speak," she said.