Advocacy

Enough Medication so Both My Sons Can Live Longer, and I Don't Have to Choose Which One Gets the Medication!

by Ronald McDonald House Charities Malaysia

MYR 16,960.12

Raised of MYR 288,000.00 target.


119

6%

Over 3 Years

Donors

Funded

Left


THE PROBLEM


"Without enough money to buy medications, doctors told me I have to choose which one of my two kids will get the medications and which one will live longer. How can a parent make a decision like that?!" . 

My name is Adam an I am 10 years old. I have a 6-year old brother named Arman. Both of us have been diagnosed with a rare disease called Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) or commonly known as Hunter Syndrome. It is a rare genetic disorder that occurs when an enzyme your body needs is either missing or malfunctioning. This enzyme's job is to break down certain complex molecules and without enough of this enzyme, the complex sugars called Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) accumulate in the body in harmful amounts. The MPS build-up massive amount of harmful substances causes permanent, progressive damage affecting appearance, mental development, organ function, and physical abilities. 

We are unfortunate as MPS or Hunter Syndrome is only diagnosed in every 150,000 births. I was diagnosed with Hunter Syndrome at the age of 5 while my brother was diagnosed when he was 1 year old. It all started when I had constant flu at the age of 4 that I had to undergo tonsil surgery. Even so, I didn't recover from the flu. Then, my mother started to notice some delays in my development, including my speech and decided to bring me to speech therapy, but I never able to talk. My parents were getting truly concerned while at the same time my health was uncertain. So they brought me to the genetic expert in University of Malaya Medical Centre, Prof. Dr. Thong Meow Keong and they were told by the doctor about the rare syndrome. 

The child may feature short stature and slowly experience loss of hearing, loss of sight and respiratory problem. Physically, the child will develop claw hands and bended legs due to joint stiffness. Without proper treatment, the child may have a heart failure that causes damage or even early death. 

THE SOLUTION


The Treatments and Costs 

The doctor advised my parents for us to undergo the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) which is quite risky with 70% fatality or to go for enzyme replacement treatment (ERT) that would give me and Arman a chance to live a normal life. However, ERT is expensive and beyond my parents' ability to bear with. Each one of us requires RM6,000 per week for ERT treatment, equivalent to RM 24,000 per month. That means, my parents need to spend more than RM 500,00 every year in order to keep both of us alive or we may not survive through adulthood. We would like to have at least a secure funding of RM 288,000 for 6 months so that we can continue to go to school and play with our friends instead of being in a hospital bed. 

 

THE IMPACT


Rubee and her husband, parents of Adam and Arman, live in a constant concern and at times went through a depression when they found out that both of their children were diagnosed with MPS or Hunter Syndrome. They tireless continue their struggle to meet the weekly treatment costs to ensure both kids lead a life of a normal child. 

Sometimes, due to financial constraint, they had to make a decision to skip treatment for one of the kids and to give way to another. Missing a treatment is not an option and it broke their hearts when they had to choose one kid over another for treatment while they know the risk. 

Contribute now to support Adam and Arman!

MYR 16,960.12

Raised of MYR 288,000.00 target.


119

6%

-

Donors

Funded

Left



Spread the love


Donors


Amount Donated

MYR 106.50

06/07/2019
Anonymous Donor
May Allah give Syifa to your sons and beautiful patience to you and your family.

Amount Donated

MYR 53.25

06/07/2019
Mark Navin
God bless

Amount Donated

MYR 106.50

06/07/2019
Anonymous Donor

Amount Donated

MYR 106.50

06/07/2019

Amount Donated

MYR 53.25

06/07/2019
Anonymous Donor

About the Organization/Project behind this Campaign

Ronald McDonald House Charities Malaysia


Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Malaysia was established in February 1990 as a non-profit organization with the mission to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of under-privileged children in Malaysia. In the last 29 years, RMHC Malaysia has positively impacted more than 20,000 children’s lives in the areas of Health, Education and Welfare with funding in excess of RM 16 million.

RMHC Malaysia operates four main programs in supporting their core pillars of Health, Education and Welfare. These programs are Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Sensory Room, Gift of Smile and the Back to School packs.

RMHC Malaysia funds these programs through the generosity of individual donors through our coin-boxes located at McDonald’s Restaurants and also from corporate sponsorship/donations.

Our Programs

1. Ronald McDonald House – RMHC builds accommodation in hospital to help keeping families with critically ill children together and near the care and resources they need.

Many families travel far from home and spend several weeks or months to get treatment for their seriously ill or injured children – a long time to be away or to divide a family. And, for children facing a serious medical crisis, nothing seems scarier than not having mom and dad close by for love and support. When your child is sick, you want the best care possible – even if it is hundreds or thousands of miles away. The Ronald McDonald House allows families to access specialized medical treatment by providing a place to call home so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little to no cost. We believe families are stronger when they are together, which helps in the healing process.

2. Ronald McDonald Sensory Room – RMHC helps children with a variety of disabilities, disorders and conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual & multiple disabilities.

RMHC provides multi-sensory facilities to more than 30 special schools and care centers nationwide for children with developmental disabilities, especially those who have sensory processing issues, including autism and other disabilities. Multi-sensory intervention is helpful in decreasing disrupting behaviors in individuals with autism.

3. Gift of Smile – RMHC provides financial support to children born with cleft lip and palate to get access to corrective surgeries needed.

Cleft lip can be caused by an improper formation of the lips or mouth of a baby when still in the mother's womb during pregnancy. A baby may be born with a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both. These can be repaired using surgical methods to improve the child’s ability to eat, speak and hear normally and to achieve a normal facial appearance.

4. Back to School Packs – Annually, RMHC helps children from poor families with school necessities for their new schooling year.

The Back to School Pack program has proven to relieve parents from the financial commitment required to purchase school necessities, improve school attendance among poor students, boost their confidence, and allow them to reach their full potential on various activities.

Fundraisers supporting this Campaign

Tile placeholder


MYR 287.55

Raised of MYR 500.00 target.

This fundraiser has ended


List logo 1


MYR 15.97

Raised of MYR 500.00 target.

This fundraiser has ended