KUALA LUMPUR: For three years, a 29-year-old man had been working round the clock with a broken arm, as he had been unable to afford the hospital bill to get it properly treated.
Bus driver Mohana Ramamorthy from Bangi, felt that the RM1,900 it would cost to treat his arm could be better used to provide for his family.
In 2013, Mohana was involved in a motorcycle accident which left him with a broken left arm.
"Initially, I went to a hospital to get it treated and they inserted a metal rod in my arm. It didn't help because my arm was still crooked after that.
"The doctors then told me they would need to perform another surgery to insert a metal plate in my arm. If I remember correctly, they told me it would cost RM1,900 for the procedure," he said.
Mohana said that at the time, he couldn't afford to undergo another surgery back-to-back.
Mohana said his employer had given him RM300 but realising he was still far from reaching the total amount, he put his pain behind him and focused on earning a living for his wife and his two-month-old baby instead.
Working overtime on most days, Mohana said his 16-hour work days eventually took a toll on his arm. He absentmindedly shut the bus bonnet using his left arm on Friday, an action that required a decent amount of physical strength.
"Since then, my left arm started to swell, and the pain became unbearable. I went to a nearby clinic to get it checked.
"That was when a kind young man approached me and asked about my condition.”
That young man turned out to be a Facebook user by the name of Ami Tanjung, who had struck up a conversation with Mohana. In his heartfelt posting, Ami recalled how Mohana held back tears as he related his ordeal.
Mohana, said Ami, told him that his health wasn't nearly as important as putting food on the table for his family, and paying rent so that they still have a roof over their heads.
Ami shared his conversation with Mohana on Facebook and uploaded pictures of the family man. Ami also urged caring members of the public to help him out.
Ami's plea for help for Mohana did not go unheard. Netizens soon rallied around his cause and offers of help soon began coming in for the bus driver.
Mohana, meanwhile, said he was deeply touched by the messages of support. However, he fears that having left his arm untreated for so long may have worsened the condition, and could result in a higher hospital bill.
MIC treasurer general Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari, when told by NST Online about Mohana's situation, expressed concern over the latter's wellbeing. Vell Paari said he was more than happy to cover the cost of the man's treatment.
"I will help pay for Mohana's arm to be treated."
Kind-hearted Malaysians who wish to extend assistance to Mohana can contact him at 018-3652523.