Newborn to undergo heart surgery
EVERY parent eagerly anticipates the joy of welcoming a newborn into their lives.

However, this was not the case for coconut water seller Mohd Tazuin Saupi and housewife Siti Nadzirah Ibrahim, who have been married for six years.

A few days after their baby girl Nur Ameena Mikayla was born, she started developing rashes on her neck.

The newborn was hospitalised for six days at Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor Baru, Johor.

She was then transferred to Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), Johor Baru for a thorough checkup.

What was thought to be a regular checkup turned out to be devastating news for the couple.

Nur Ameena, the youngest of three children, was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect, a congenital heart disease.

The HSA medical team detected two holes measuring between 7mm and 8mm in Nur Ameena’s heart – considered large for a newborn.

Her case was subsequently referred to the National Heart Institute (IJN) for the next course of treatment.

Upon carrying out the necessary examinations, the IJN team recommended surgery as necessary corrective procedure costing approximately RM40,000.

Due to financial constraints faced by Mohd Tazuin, 33, and Siti Nadzirah, 28, the baby’s case was referred to Star Foundation, the charitable arm of Star Media Group.

The foundation’s Medical Fund Programme, which focuses on providing financial assistance to underprivileged individuals suffering from chronic illnesses, sponsors one-off medical treatment and care.

Cognisant of Nur Ameena’s needs, the foundation carried out due diligence and subsequently agreed to support the surgery.

Mohd Tazuin who earns RM1,200 a month selling coconut water in Bakar Batu, Johor Baru, cannot afford to pay for Nur Ameena’s surgery.

Siti Nadzirah is a stay-at-home mother taking care of their three children, who are between five years and two months old.

She said her son, who was three years older than Nur Ameena, also had a medical condition.

He was diagnosed with epilepsy and depends on medication.

“I never expected my daughter to be diagnosed with a heart problem.

“We don’t have a family history of such a medical condition. It is devastating,” she said.

She added that as a result of of the medical condition, Nur Ameena’s heart beat rapidly and it made breathing difficult.

The baby also could not consume large amounts of milk.

Siti Nadzirah said her daughter could only be bottle fed, which meant she also had to transfer breast milk to the milk bottle.

To reduce complications stemming from Nur Ameena’s current condition, she is given two types of medicine thrice daily until the day of her surgery which is scheduled for Feb 28.

The family is thankful for the government cash aid given under the “Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah” initiative and is grateful to Star Foundation for stepping in to help Nur Ameena get a more normal life.

The support is made possible through public donations made to the foundation’s Medical Fund Programme which will allow Nur Ameena to undergo the life-changing surgery.

The Medical Fund Programme was established in 2015 by Star Foundation.

The foundation, through impactful initiatives, has been helping a diverse group of beneficiaries.
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EVERY parent eagerly anticipates the joy of welcoming a newborn into their lives.