KUALA LUMPUR: At just 3 months old, Maryam Insyirah Muhammad Muizzuddin has already seen too much suffering.
Diagnosed with jaundice when she was born, the doctors who took care of her while she was in the incubator noticed that her heart rate was accelerating.
Scans showed that Maryam Insyirah had ventricular septal defect, meaning she had two holes in her little heart.
Her 25-year-old mother, Siti Hajar Mazait, said there had been no problems during her pregnancy but the heart defect was detected five days after Maryam Insyirah was born.
“They did a scan on her and that was when we were told of her condition. Since then, she has been relying on a ventilator to breathe. My daughter used to be active and healthy but not anymore... and she has been gradually losing weight over the past month,” she said, adding that her baby’s immune system is weak because she is still young.
Maryam Insyirah, who was born in Kuala Terengganu, was then transferred to the intensive care unit of Gleneagles Hospital in Ampang for further observation.
She needs heart surgery to correct the defect before it causes irreversible damage to her lungs.
The problem is that the surgery costs RM50,000 and the family is strapped for cash.
Her 26-year-old father, Muhammad Muizzuddin Zaini, is the sole breadwinner of the family and with a monthly income of just RM2,000, the family cannot afford the surgery. They are at their wits end just dealing with the rising medical costs, what more the surgery.
“It is really sad to see my daughter relying on the ventilator and being poked by needles like this. I really hope she will recover soon as I cannot wait to bring her back home to hold her,” said Muizzuddin.
The family is appealing for donations so that Maryam Insyirah can undergo the surgery in order to live a normal life.
Well-wishers who wish to donate may send cheques made payable to Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund with the name of the patient written on the reverse and address it to: The Group Corporate Communications Department, Media Prima Berhad, Level 1, Anjung Riong, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Donations can also be made via cash deposit to Maybank account (5141-0532-3170).