LONDON: Stroke victim Mohamad Sahar Mhd Noor, 57, had a special visitor by his bedside on Sunday, bearing good news for him and his family.
Apart from several blinks of the eye, he did not show any signs of being aware of what was going on in his room at the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit ward of Charing Cross Hospital here.
Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa, who happened to be in London, made the visit yesterday and helped alleviate worries that the family had been experiencing since Sahar had a stroke on arrival at Heathrow Airport on July 4.
The family was relieved to hear that they need not pay back the initial £30,000 (RM160,000) advance from Mara, Sahar’s employer.
“That amount was an advance to help him get treatment as he didn’t have any insurance.
“Now, the situation has changed and he does not need to pay back the money.
“Whatever assistance that they need will be worked out by Mara without reference to the limit of the expenses involved,” said Annuar, referring to hospital bills that are accumulating by the day, as well as the cost of flying back the patient with his wife, Hawiyah Ahmad, 57, and his children, Muhammad Fahdli, 30, Amirah, 29, and Atikah, 27.
A week ago, the bill had come up to £45,000 and the family started a GoFundMe campaign when told that the advanced amount had been capped at £30,000.
Annuar said in accordance with the requirements of the hospital, a doctor and a nurse would accompany Sahar on the flight, as well as the new Mara director in London, Ahmad Izlan Idris, who was tasked with being the coordinator to ensure everything was executed smoothly.
Annuar said the total cost, especially the hospital bills, was yet to be finalised as Sahar was still receiving therapy, but he assured the family that they need not worry about anything.
“The family need not think about the issue of money.
“Let us take care of that because we want the family to concentrate on looking after Sahar.
“Let us coordinate with other offers of help,” said Annuar, referring to the offer by Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
On the GoFundMe funds collected by the family, which, at £54,000, was more than double the target amount, Annuar said the money would still be used as the family originally intended for the hospital bills, which were still accumulating.
“There will, of course, be a cut-off point in the donation and the sum will not be enough.
“So, whatever is not enough, we will take care of that,” he said after a lengthy discussion with Sahar’s family.
At the moment, Hawiyah and Fadhli are sharing Amirah and Atikah’s flat in Uxbridge, West London, and the family has been travelling daily to Charing Cross Hospital to visit Sahar.
Annuar said the family would move into one of Mara’s apartments here to make it easier and more comfortable for them to make the visits.
Fadhli had said the hospital had informed the family that Sahar could be discharged soon, but he was liaising with the parties concerned regarding the conditions set by the hospital.
Apart from a doctor and a nurse to accompany Sahar on the flight, all equipment and facilities in the ward must be available on the flight.
Sahar needs four business class seats to himself.
It was learnt that Malaysian doctors in London have volunteered to look after Sahar during the 13-hour flight.
The dates of discharge and the flight to Malaysia have yet to be decided.