Girl, eight, needs funds for urgent surgery
Erinna battling epilepsy since she was a baby
SUNGAI PETANI: Eight-year-old Erinna Natashya Mohd Sohaimi looks like any other little girl but she has been battling epilepsy since she was a baby.
She developed epileptic seizures when she was eight months old and has spent much of her young life in and out of hospital.
Her uncontrollable seizures, which became more severe and occurred daily after she turned three, despite being on medical therapy, have caused her development to regress. Erinna, who turns nine next month, has never been to school due to her condition.
Her father Mohd Sohaimi Shafie, 47, said although his daughter is able to walk, she is dependent on him and his wife for everything else as she is unable to speak or eat solid food.
“We need to be on our toes all the time to watch over her as she could fall over anytime during one of her seizures and injure herself.
“It is one of our greatest fears that one of her falls could cause a life threatening injury,” he said at their flat here during a recent visit by The Star.
Sohaimi has three other children aged 16 to 22 who are all still studying. He quit as a lorry driver several years ago to care for his daughter at home while his 51-year-old wife works as an assistant at a nearby kindergarten.
“When we brought her to Kuala Lumpur for treatment, the doctor told us that the MRI scan of Erinna showed a birth abnormality in the left side of her brain, which is causing the seizures.
“This abnormality can be treated by surgery, with a 60% to 70% chance of completely stopping her seizures.
“The doctor told us that if she did not undergo the surgery, constant seizures would lead to further deterioration of brain function.
“The subsidised cost of the surgery is about RM48,000,” said Sohaimi, adding that it would be performed at Ara Damansara Medical Centre in Selangor.
Sohaimi has reached out to the Star Foundation, the charitable arm of Star Media Group, for financial aid.
Star Foundation has been raising, receiving and administering funds for various causes.
To help more individuals and families in dire need of financial assistance and medical attention, the Medical Fund Programme was set up.
Those who wish to help the family could donate to the fund via bank transfer to Star Foundation-Medical Fund’s Public Bank account (319984-9230).
For tax exemption receipts to be issued, donors have to download and complete the Medical Fund – Donation Form from http://starmediagroup.my/star-foundation/medical-fund-programme/.
The completed form attached with proof of transfer is to be e-mailed to starfoundation@thestar. com.my for the tax exemption receipt to be issued.
For details, call Star Foundation at 03-79671388 ext 1046.