Little Ainul Mardhiah returns to Malaysia after operation to remove rare tumour

SEPANG (Bernama): After more than two months in London, 11-month-old Ainul Mardhiah Ahmad Safiuddin has returned to Malaysia following her successful operation to remove a rare germ cell tumour.

"Alhamdulillah, Ainul is healthy. Thank you to all Malaysians for their prayers. Alhamdulillah we have arrived safely, " said Ainul's father, Ahmad Safiuddin Ahmad Razak.

The 24-year-old met with reporters after arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport from London.

His 11-month-old daughter was immediately brought to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital after their arrival for follow-up treatment and observation.

Ahmad said Ainul was in good health throughout the 12 hour journey.

"The situation was OK and we arrived safely. There were no problems on the flight, " he said.

Ainul, her father and 24-year-old mother Nurul Erwani Zaidi were greeted by more than 20 family members at the airport.

Ainul's and her parents' return flight was also accompanied by two Malaysian volunteer doctors; Avisena Specialist Hospital consultant anaesthesiologist and critical care specialist Col (R) Datuk Dr Jaseemuddeen Abu Bakar and Subang Jaya Medical Centre consultant anaesthesiologist and critical care specialist Dr Gunalan Arumugam.

Ainul arrived in London on May 25 and underwent a five-hour operation at the Great Ormond Street Hospital to remove a 200g tumour on June 10.

The surgery was performed by a group of specialist doctors from different fields together with UK-based trainee surgeon Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri, who brought the baby and her parents to London to seek treatment.

Ainul's plight caught not just Malaysians but also Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who also visited her when he was in the United Kingdom on a three-day working visit last month.

Ainul's story received the public's attention when a video recording of the baby who had a tumour in her mouth went viral on social media. - Bernama