SIX-YEAR-OLD Muhammad Faris Habibullah Mohd Abdul Sahat was born with a heart condition and is relying on a pacemaker to stay alive.
Due to high energy consumption and the limited lifespan of the battery, it needs replacing urgently and will cost his family RM60,000.
Mohd Abdul Sahat Bujang said his son was initially brought to a clinic to check for jaundice when he was 10 days old.
Faris needs RM60,000 to pay for a pacemaker battery replacement and surgery.
Faris was referred to a hospital where after further tests, he was diagnosed with a hole in his heart.
“He was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for more than a month,” said Abdul Sahat.
“Later, the doctor recommended a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) operation.
“After the procedure, they allowed five months for the hole to close naturally.
“However, after the second surgery, Faris developed complete heart block,” said the father.
A pacemaker was recommended and in 2020 it was implanted, enabling Faris to lead a relatively normal life.
However, he must undergo annual check-ups to monitor the battery.
“I have five children, and Faris is the third. The others are healthy.
“When I found out the pacemaker battery needed replacing, I was very worried. Only after the surgery is over will I feel at ease,” Abdul Sahat said emotionally.
Community Care Enrichment Programme (CCEP) Foundation chief executive officer Yvonne Yee said a pacemaker was a lifelong medical device but its battery would last about 10 years, depending on usage.
She said batteries for children’s pacemakers ran out faster due to their higher levels of activity.
“In Faris’ case, the battery is already fully depleted. Doctors have warned that the pacemaker could stop at any time.
“That is why we must urgently raise RM60,000 for a replacement,” said Yee.
“In his six years of life, Faris has already had four major surgeries. His small body carries visible scars from all those procedures,” she said.
She added that due to the urgency of his case, the hospital agreed to proceed with the surgery after receiving CCEP’s guarantee letter.
Faris was discharged on Aug 8 and CCEP is conducting fund raising.
For more details, call Yee Poo Yoon at 018-271 8849 or the organisation at 03-7955 9999 or 010-279 8849.
Donations are tax-exempt, said Yee.
