Four heart-case babies need help

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GEORGE TOWN: Four families here are appealing for help to pay for the cost of surgery for their children at the Gleaneagles Medical Centre here.

Nine-month-old Daniel Cheah's parents, Mohd Irfan Syah Cheah Abdullah, 51, and Paini Paimin, 36, are unable to bear the expense of the heart surgery which is expected to cost about RM15,000.

Irfan is a part-time tourist van driver earning RM1,000 per month, while his wife is unemployed.

The family has another daughter, Nabilah Natasyah, 6, to care for.

"I do not have a full-time job and I am paid only when I have tourists to drive around," he said, adding that his income barely covered the family's monthly expenses.

Another baby, nine-month-old Balqisal Zahra Ismail, needs two surgeries to correct her heart defects.

The estimated cost of the surgeries is about RM33,000 and her family, too, cannot afford it.

Her father, Ismail Hashim, 33, is a storekeeper in Alor Star while her mother, Nurlela Lanzim, 40, is a housewife.

They have two other daughters, one aged 8 and the other, 9 months.

Five-month-old Sharvin Jeevan also needs to undergo heart surgery which is expected cost RM25,000.

His father, Jeevan Kanniah, 35, is a salesman earning RM700 per month, while his mother, Anjalai Karupiah, 29, is an operator in a factory in Kulim, Kedah, and earns RM600 per month.

The family has another son, Thanushraj Jeevan, aged 5.

Eleven-day-old Amir Hafizi Kamaludin, needs a surgery which will cost RM40,000.

His father, Mohd Kamaludin Mohd Ashar, 44, is a teacher and earns RM2,800 per month, while his mother, Fuziah Bakar, 45, is a housewife.

They have six other children aged from 3 to 19.

"My other two sons, Amir Faqihi, 3, and Amir Zuhiri, 14, also have heart problems and they, too, are awaiting surgery," he said.

Kamaludin said he could contribute RM2,000 towards his son's surgery and he is hoping for generous contributions from the public.

Those who wish to help the four children can send cheques made payable to The New Straits Times (M) Sdn Bhd, with the children's names written on the reverse and addressed to: The Cashier, Finance Department/Charity Unit, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, Balai Berita, No 31, Jalan Riong, 59100, Kuala Lumpur.