Boy with swollen head dies on mother’s lap

SIBU: A boy with swollen head, Solomon Franky, passed away at about 3am on Monday on his mother’s lap at their home in Sarikei.

His body was later sent to Nirvana Memorial Park for cremation and burial in the afternoon.

His mother, Tiong Wen Fen, woke up about 3am to check on Solomon who was sleeping on her lap.

“To my shock, I discovered that his lips were pale and he was motionless,” she related in sobs.

She immediately sent the little Solomon to Sarikei Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

During the cremation at 4pm on Monday, Tiong broke down when she saw the coffin bearing her son’s body was slowly moved into the crematorium.

Two of her three children, a 12year-old girl and seven-year-old son, family members, relatives and friends including several members of Malaysia Charity Group Sibu chapter led by Tieng Mee Ann were also there to bid their final goodbye to the little Solomon.

“I am truly sorry to the many donors who have contributed generously and helped raise funds for Solomon’s medical expenses in the past year. It’s so unfortunate that despite all medical efforts, it was not enough to bring my little boy back to life,” she said.

Tieng, however, comforted the mother and told her to remain brave as she needed to take care of her three other children.

“Be brave and stay healthy. Your three other children still need you to take care of them,” he consoled her.

The 18-month-old Solomon suffered from nosocomial pneumonia or fluid detention in the head that caused it to swell to abnormal level.

When his case was first detected a year ago, members of the Malaysia Charity Group immediately called for donations to enable the boy to seek medical help in Taiwan.

Within 14 days, they managed to raise over RM630,000 for him to undergo surgical operation in Taiwan to correct the deformity.

Of the amount, Malaysia Charity Group helped raise about RM540,000 while Lions Club of Sibu Mandarin collected about RM90,000.

On May 19 last year, they left for Taiwan for the boy to undergo the operation at Taiwan Chang Gung Medical Centre.