Donations keep pouring in for family, child with bladder exstrophy
MIRI: Donations from individuals, companies and organisations here continue to pour in for a family of nine whose youngest child is born with bladder exstrophy.
A group of people from various backgrounds brought food and money to the family in Bekenu near here on Monday, which was the first day of Gawai Dayak.
“We are heartbroken upon hearing of the child’s condition and his family’s situation.
“We are bringing RM1,000 worth of groceries to the family to ease some of their burden,” said one of the donors, who wanted to be identified only as Richard.
He also said the group managed to raise about RM5,000 for the family, including for the child’s corrective surgery.
Bladder exstrophy is a congenital abnormality that occurs when the skin cover of the lower abdominal wall does not form properly, resulting in the bladder being exposed.
The targeted RM45,000 fund needed for the child to undergo corrective surgery at Sarawak General Hospital had been achieved – thanks to the support from the local community as well as individuals from Malaysia and Singapore.
Sibuti Che Lee Khor Moral Upli ing Society and Taiwan Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation (Tzu Chi Miri) had pledged to follow up with the child’s family.
Donny Koo, a volunteer from
Yuan Man Welfare Association here and also the organising chairman of a sub-commi ee for the fund slated for the child, felt relieved a er the family’s plight was highlighted by the media, which resulted in support and donations coming in from many caring parties.
He said a er the news was out, the family was surprised to receive a dozen packets of rice donated by a local merchant.
The family, however, had given some of the rice to other poor families in the village, knowing well that they could not consume all of it on their own.
“They may be poor, but they are good people who happen to have unfortunate events befalling them,” said Koo.