KUALA LUMPUR: A 17-year-old teenager, whose leg was amputated due to a ruptured appendix, needs a new prosthetic leg to replace his current one that is worn out.
Bala Chantran has been wearing a prosthetic leg since he was 15, after spending two months in the intensive care unit (ICU) at University Malaya Medical Centre here.
He received his first prosthetic leg in April 2021.
Bala's mother, Mageswari, is again appealing for donations to help her son enjoy a better quality of life. A new prosthetic leg is estimated to cost RM14,000.
"The (prosthetic) leg needs to be replaced as he is growing up and is an active teenager who moves around a lot," she said today during an interview at Teh Lin Prosthetic & Orthopaedic Centre here.
She said hospital follow-ups to monitor Bala's prosthetic leg were conducted twice a year and that it was finally time for a replacement.
Before the amputation, Bala was active in school. He used to play football and also went for taekwondo classes.
When Mageswari told her son about the amputation, he had been devastated.
"Dealing with the situation for the first time was quiet depressing and it was hard for me to accept it," Bala said.
"Without the prosthetic leg, it would be difficult for me to move about and my confidence would be affected when going to school."
Mageswari only earns around RM1,000 a month from babysitting.
Those who wish to help Bala can send cheques made payable to "Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund" to the Group Corporate Communications Department, Media Prima Berhad, Level 5, Anjung Riong, Balai Berita, 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, with the patient's name written behind the cheque.
The public may also donate to the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund via Bank Muamalat (account number 1401 0008 8427) or Maybank (account number 5141 0532 3170).
Donations to the fund are tax-deductible.