For Nur Haziqah Mohd Rosdi, however, life is different. The 14-year-old has a severe congenital heart defect and is now in critical condition, urgently requiring life-saving open-heart surgery.
Haziqah was born with atrial septal defect (ASD), or a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart. This causes oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix, forcing the heart to work harder and reducing its efficiency.
She also suffers from mitral regurgitation – a condition where the mitral valve, located between the left atrium and left ventricle, doesn’t close properly. This causes blood to flow backward into the atrium during heart contractions.
Although these conditions were present at birth, her parents had thought they weren’t serious as she seemed healthy and active. And despite doctors having recommended surgery to repair the septal defect, the family put it on hold because of financial constraints.
To compound matters, Haziqah’s father and sister experience seizures. Both are unable to work and are registered as persons with disabilities (OKU). Her mother stays home full-time to care for the family, and they do not have a steady source of income.
This year, Haziqah’s condition worsened significantly when she began to experience severe oxygen shortage, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Multiple hospital visits and tests revealed that the hole in her heart has enlarged and she is now in heart failure.
She urgently needs surgery to close the hole in her heart and repair her mitral valve – a procedure that will give her a real chance of survival and improve her long-term quality of life. Sadly, the cost of RM90,000 is far beyond what her family can afford.
The family has turned to Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia (formerly known as the Malaysian Association for the Welfare of Mentally Challenged Children) for help. According to case worker Ben Wong, the association began fundraising for Haziqah’s surgery on June 6.
“Your contribution, no matter how small, can bring her one step closer to healing. By donating, you’re giving her a future filled with hope, laughter and the chance to grow up healthy,” he told FMT Lifestyle.
For Haziqah, her family’s well-being is ultimately what’s important. “I don’t want my mum to worry. I want to get better, go back to school, and one day take care of my family,” she said.
If you wish to donate, contributions can be made directly to Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia, Ambank account number 8881 0609 91545.
Please reference ‘CASE 53’ in your transactions. Kindly email a copy of your receipt to [email protected] or send it via WhatsApp to Ben Wong at 010-238 7072.
For further information, visit Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia’s Facebook profile.
Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia
118 & 120 Jalan Gasing,
46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor