4-year-old needs heart surgery
KUALA LUMPUR: The parents of a 4-yearold girl are appealing for donations to allow her to undergo heart surgery.
Wan Nurbalqis Nadhirah Wan Mohd Rozi was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) and absent pulmonary valve syndrome (APVS) while she was in the womb.
The medical condition is a heart defect that causes inefficient blood flow to the lungs, causing insufficient oxygen.
Nurbalqis’ mother, Sofiah Liza Pijoh, 37, said she was a victim of a hit-and-run accident two years before her pregnancy.
“The repercussions from the accident have compromised my quality of life since. My pregnancy was confirmed after five months of amenorrhea (absence of menstruation).
“My husband and I were informed that the pregnancy posed high risks, and could cause fatal or permanent blindness.
“I decided to undergo an emergencyinduced labour and gave birth via C-section at the sixth month of pregnancy.
“I got to hold my baby only for a few minutes. She was intubated and put on a ventilator,” she said, adding that Nurbalqis was admitted at the intensive care unit of Hospital Sungai Buloh.
“After a month, the doctor said she was able to breathe on her own. However, we needed to bring her for check-ups every two weeks.”
Nurbalqis underwent total repair surgery in 2016 at the age of 2, which involved inserting a monoscupid valve and pre-implantation of the left pulmonary artery to the main pulmonary artery, using an artificial single-piece valve made of Gore-Tex. The surgeries enabled her to breathe normally.
However, during one of her recent check-ups, the doctor said Nurbalqis’ heart condition had deteriorated. She was referred to Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur.
Sofiah said her child was in dire need of surgery to re-implant the left pulmonary artery and re-do the monoscupid valve insertion and revision of right ventricular outflow tract, which cost RM60,000.
“Any delay will deteriorate her lungs and heart functions, and put her life at risk.”
Those wanting to donate can send cheques made payable to the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund at Group Corporate Communications Department, Media Prima Bhd, Level 1, Anjung Riong, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur (with the patient’s name written on the reverse side of the cheque).
The public may also send their donations to Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund’s Maybank account 5141-0532-3170 and indicate the patient’s name on the recipients reference or other payment details field.