KUALA LUMPUR: Muhammad Aqil Uzair Mohamad Zahir was an active child until he turned three.
That was when his family saw a stark change in their once energetic son, who is the youngest of two boys.
His mother, Nurul Sharina Mohammad Muhidzer, 36, said Aqil's face turned pale during play time one day.
Worried that it was something serious, Nurul Sharina and her husband, Mohamad Zahir Jantan, 46, brought their son for a check-up at the Chinese Maternity Hospital in Seremban.
Doctors informed the couple that Aqil had an irregular heart rhythm and that scan results showed that he had a hole in his heart.
"My husband and I were stupefied with the news. We didn't know what to do. I was devastated and didn't know how to react to it.
"Why must our son go through this?" said Nurul Sharina as she tried to contain herself during a virtual interview today.
She said Aqil's ailment was probably hereditary as there was a family history of heart problem from her father.
"It was all normal when I was pregnant with Aqil. He was a healthy boy and there was nothing to indicate he had any ailment, so we thought he would grow up healthy."
Nurul Sharina said Aqil was eventually referred to Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur. The couple is facing a hard time as doctors told them they need RM50,000 for Aqil to undergo heart surgery to treat the 2.29 cm hole in his heart, which is also known as an atrial septal defect.
Aqil's father, Zahir, who works as a goat and cattle farmer, only earns RM1,500 a month. Nurul Sharina, on the other hand, just started her job as a food operator.
The family can barely sustain themselves and are at their wits' end on ways to raise the money for Aqil's surgery.
"I hope there are kind people out there who are willing to help us. Please help our young boy to continue a normal childhood.
"We want him to be able to get back to his active self," said a tearful Nurul Sharina.
Well-wishers who wish to donate to Aqil may send cheques made payable to the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund, with the patient's name written on the reverse-side of the cheque and addressed to the Group Corporate Communications Department, Media Prima Berhad, Level 4, Anjung Riong, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Donors may also deposit their donation to Bank Muamalat account number (1401-0008-8427-18) or Maybank account number (5141-0532-3170), and indicate the patient's name in the recipients' reference section or other payment details section.
All donations to the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund are tax deductible.