KUALA LUMPUR: Nur Ajeerah Aqila Jafri seems to be a picture of health as she basks in the attention of her father, Jafri Ali. But looks can be deceiving.

The youngest of four, Nur Ajeerah’s birth was a source of joy for her parents, Jafri and Rohana Zainal.

But their joy is now dampened as she was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome and a congenital heart problem, Atrio-Ventricular Septal Defect (AVSD).

Now, barely a month after turning 1, Nur Ajeerah needs two corrective surgeries, just to survive.

Rohana said Nur Ajeerah’s three older brothers doted on her and try to look after her.

“When we put her to sleep, her brothers will immediately crowd on her mattress to lie next to her.

“We hope that the operations will be a success and that Nur Ajeerah will get a clean bill of health.” Nur Ajeerah will undergo a cardiac catherisation operation and AVSD repair, at Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, costing RM37,000.

The operations will close the two holes in her heart, currently depriving her body of ox y g e n .

Her parents can only afford RM11,200 of the costs, by withdrawing from their Employee Providence Fund.

They are now appealing to the public to help their daughter.

Those who wish to help Nur Ajeerah can send cheques, made payable to The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, with her name written on the reverse, to: The Cashier, Finance Department/Charity Unit, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, Balai Berita, No 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.