(From left) Lee, Yao Jiunn and Yee, representing the foundation that is raising funds for the boy.
AFFLICTED with Crohn’s disease, Chai Yao Jiunn isn’t living the life of a typical nine-year-old boy in Kuala Lumpur.
Due to an inflammatory bowel disease, Yao Jiunn has been hospitalised for months.
He has not been able to eat for the past few months, and solely subsists on nutritional fluids.
This has caused great suffering for the child who used to enjoy eating.
His mother, Lee Sew Ken, 41, said her son had always been in good health.
However, since his Crohn’s disease diagnosis last February, Yao Jiunn has been constantly afflicted by infections leading to fever, mouth ulcers and wound inflammation, leaving his body in a very weakened state.
His doctors are planning to conduct a two-year treatment for Yao Jiunn, who will be receiving Infliximab injections to manage his condition.
However, the treatment costs RM56,000, which Yao Jiunn’s family cannot afford.
“To take better care of Yao Jiunn, I have stopped working as a salesperson so I can stay in the hospital with him.
“We currently depend entirely on my husband’s income as a store manager,” said Lee.
She said they had been forced to borrow money from relatives and friends to cover their son’s medical expenses.
Even then, this hasn’t been enough to cover Yao Jiunn’s monthly medical costs.
In order to manage Yao Jiunn’s condition, he has received 10 Infliximab injections over the past six months.
Leaving the hospital would increase his susceptibility to infection.
“To assist in his waste elimination, the doctors have created an artificial opening for him.
“He needs two to four ostomy bags per day and these bags range in cost between RM400 and RM500 per month.
“This doesn’t even include the expenses for injections, lubricants and ointments.
“Yao Jiunn really enjoys going to school. The hospital has an affiliated school and whenever his condition allows, he will attend classes.
“He loves learning and he looks forward to being discharged and going back home to attend school. Yao Jiunn’s sister also misses him a lot,” Lee said.
Moved by the family’s plight, CCEP Foundation will assist in fundraising to cover the boy’s treatment expenses.
Foundation chief executive officer Yee Poo Yoon said while Crohn’s disease was not an urgent illness, prolonged illness could lead to malnutrition and trigger other serious complications.
As Yao Jiunn’s treatment extends over two years and the medication cost is exceptionally high, she said it was beyond what an average family could afford.
“During this period, Yao Jiunn’s condition has led to recurrent fever, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers and might even require the removal of the affected parts of the colon.
“This is an agonising experience for anyone, let alone a child.”
CCEP will help raise RM56,000 for Yao Jiunn’s medical expenses and is appealing for public support.
To donate, WhatsApp 010-279 8849 or visit www.ccep.org.my.
