MELAKA: The family of Ainul Mardhiah Ahmad Safiuddin, the baby suffering from a rare form of cancer known as Germ Cell Tumour, is thankful that her flight to London was uneventful and that she arrived safely.
Her father, Ahmad Safiuddin Ahmad Razak, 24, via a social media posting, said his 9-month-old daughter arrived safely in the British capital to undergo her surgery, and did not encounter any problem during the flight.
He said this was also greatly helped by the presence of two private hospital anaesthetists, who had paid for the trip out of their own pockets to accompany the baby on the trip.
The volunteers, he said, worked tirelessly throughout the flight to ensure that she remained healthy.
However, Safiuddin said the only blip came upon arrival in London, when Ainul Mardhiah’s oxygen level was affected. However, staff at the children’s hospital there successfully stabilised her levels.
“Maybe the long trip took a toll on her, and she now needs to adjust herself,” wrote Safiuddin, who promised to update Ainul Mardhiah’s condition and development via social media.
Meanwhile, Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri, a UK-based Malaysian surgeon, shared an Instagram posting on Ainul Mardhiah’s arrival in London.
Dr Nur Amalina, who also shared a photo she took with the girl’s parents, took the opportunity to express her gratitude to Malaysians who had pooled their resources to help Ainul Mardhiah receive surgery.
Dr Nur Amalina had previously appealed for help on social media to bring Ainul to London for treatment after a course of chemotherapy failed to control the bright red tumour growing in the girl’s mouth.
Ainul Mardhiah was born prematurely at seven months and was diagnosed with the cancer at her birth.
At 10 days old, the infant was initially treated at the Melaka General Hospital before being transferred to Kuala Lumpur Hospital where her cancerous growth was removed.
However, last October, the couple were informed by doctors that they detected new tumour in Ainul Mardhiah, this time in her mouth.
The total cost for Ainul Mardhiah’s treatment in the UK is expected to amount to over RM1 million.