Hail Idrus (left) with his parents and brother.
Earlier this year, Malaysians were introduced to a quiet little boy from Kuching, Sarawak.
A toddler with big eyes and a gentle smile, two-year-old Hail Idrus Arman had been living in a silent world since birth.
But thanks to the generosity of Malaysians, he underwent a bilateral cochlear implant surgery in May at Borneo Medical Centre in Kuching.
Just a week later, Hail Idrus turned his head towards his mother when she called his name.
It was a moment his parents had long dreamed of.
“It happened during one of my conversations with him.
“He naturally turned his head when I called his name,” Missie Bolie recalled, her voice full of emotion.
“After months of silence, seeing him respond and hear us now is both beautiful and overwhelming,” she added.
Hail Idrus’ father Arman Ramali said, “We used to worry constantly about his future.
“Now, seeing his progress, we are filled with hope.
“Words can’t express the joy we feel.”
Hail Idrus’ journey to this developmental milestone was not an easy one.
The youngest of five siblings, he seemed healthy at birth.
But as months passed, his parents noticed that he did not respond to voices or sounds around him.
A series of medical tests confirmed severe hearing loss in both ears.
Despite trying the high-powered hearing aids, the little boy showed no improvement.
Surgery was then deemed to be his only hope.
But at a cost of RM125,000, it had been a solution beyond the family’s means, as Arman earns just RM1,700 a month and Missie is a full-time homemaker.
In January this year, the Star Media Group’s charitable arm Star Foundation launched a two-month fundraising campaign to cover the cost of Hail Idrus’ surgery.
Malaysians from all walks of life rallied together, offering donations, prayers and support.
Their overwhelming response reflected a sense of compassion that united the nation.
According to Nur Zahirah Enche Othman, a speech therapist with the Kuching branch of HearLife Hearing Care Centre, Hail Idrus is making steady progress.
“With the ability to hear, he’s learning to engage with the world by imitating gestures, reacting to sounds and even starting to vocalise,” she said.
Hail Idrus now attends regular speech therapy and is supported by a dedicated team helping him develop communication skills.
His family and the Star Foundation have extended heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to his cause.
Since 2016, the foundation’s Medical Fund Programme has helped underprivileged individuals suffering from chronic illnesses by funding critical medical treatment and care.
To learn more or to make a donation, visit starfoundation.com.my or e-mail starfoundation@thestar.com.my
