KUALA LUMPUR: The parents of an 18-month-old boy are appealing for donations to help their son undergo surgery to supply extra blood to his lungs.
The baby, Gan Yu Siang, was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) since birth. This condition means that the baby was born with a hole in the heart and blocked blood vessels.
Yu Siang urgently needs to undergo an operation, which will cost about RM40,000, to put in a Blalock-Taussig shunt.
It will allow more blood supply to aid in the growth of blood vessels to the lungs.
Yu Siang’s father, Gan Chin Yong, 30, said: “The doctors say his oxygen level needs to be at least 75 per cent, but now it has dropped to just over 60 per cent.
“He has development difficulties as well.
“He is still unable to walk and has problems putting on weight. He only weighs 6.9kg.
“As soon as he was born, he started to breath heavily.
“When the doctors checked, they found that his blood oxygen levels were low and remained stagnant.
“It is easier to enlarge the blood vessel while he’s still a baby.
“It will be too late if we wait until he’s older,” he said.
Yu Siang is also at high risk of developing cerebral thrombosis, a condition that causes blockage of the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain.
Chin Yong said he earned about RM2,700 a month and his wife, Tee Guat Tho, also 30, had to quit her job as a clerk to care for their only child.
Those who wish to help can send cheques made payable to Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund with the patient’s name written on the reverse side of the cheque.
This can be addressed to Group Corporate Communications Department Media Prima Bhd, Level 3, Anjung Liku, Balai Berita, 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
The public may also send their donations to Maybank account number 5141-0532-3170.