[UPDATED]

When she was three, Melagah was diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a condition that causes her to get tired and catch fever easily, as well as experience painful body aches.

VSD is a birth defect where there is a hole in the wall that separates the two ventricles of the heart.

Melagah, who hails from Tanjung Tualang in Perak, has since been going for regular checkups at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur. Initially, doctors had told her the condition was under control.

“But last year, I was advised to undergo surgery as the hole in my heart has worsened, and a procedure has to be done,” she told FMT.

The surgery, she revealed, will cost RM27,000.

A more recent visit to IJN confirmed that she needs to undergo the procedure by May, or her condition could lead to other complications.

“If I get to do the surgery this year, I would then only need to come to IJN once every two years for follow-ups,” she added.

Melagah presently does not work as she stays at home to care for her mother, who is recovering from a stroke.

Her father, the sole breadwinner, works as a car driver and is unable to afford the cost of the surgery.

Melagah shared that her family has sought help from the Tanjung Tualang district chief’s office, as well as the office of Malim Nawar state assemblyperson Bavani Veriah.

Speaking with FMT, Bavani confirmed that Melagah’s family has been in contact with her team, who are in the process of allocating an unspecified partial amount to help with the surgery cost.

She added that her office is also reaching out to the welfare department in a bid to secure additional funding for the family, but was unable to provide further details as of press time.

The call for contributions towards Melagah’s upcoming surgery is now CLOSED. More to come.