Family of heart op toddler gets cash aid, new cot from Hope Place
KUCHING: The plight of Nur Fatin Fatihah who underwent heart surgery in 2016 received the attention of Hope Place Kuching who donated RM500 and a baby cot to the family recently.
A press statement from Hope Place yesterday said the toddler’s father Abang Zayid Abang Zaini is currently doing odd jobs for a living while his wife Rasida is suffering from depression.
“Abang Zayid had previously worked as a security guard but resigned due to his daughter’s condition. He now also suffers from a swollen leg and is unfit for a full-time job,” said Hope Place founder Kelvin Wan.
On his first visit to their rented shophouse unit, Wan was saddened to see Nur Fatin with numerous scratches on her face, arms and legs caused by her makeshift cot.
“The baby cot was self-made by her father using discarded or recycled wood that were nailed together. When I saw this, my heart was torn apart. I felt very sad,” said Wan.
He also revealed that Nur Fatin suffers from chronic lung infection and her recovery is believed to be slow due to the poor ventilation of the rented unit.
He added the family had also applied for a unit at the KMC Flat complex in Padungan early this year but has not received any news so far.
The family receives RM200 in monthly allowance from the Welfare Department, which also foot the cost of Nur Fatin’s heart surgery totaling RM44,000.
For more information on how to help, Hope Place can be reached on 013- 5672775 or 082- 505987 from 8.30am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm (Monday to Friday), and from 9am to 12pm on Saturdays.
For those interested in making a donation, do request for a receipt from the staff at Hope Place.
Direct bank-ins can be made to Hope Place’s Maybank account at 5112- 8900-1160 under ‘ Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching’.