Raja Permaisuri Agung Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. – AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: "I know what it is like to pine for a child," said Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah to couples at an event for a foundation for fertility issues which bears her name.
The Queen was with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at the Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation (TAFF) family day here in Seri Kembangan on Sunday (Oct 6).
Tunku Azizah also thanked Sultan Abdullah for his support when she was trying to conceive.
She said that only women who had been in the same predicament would understand the emotions one has to go through.
TAFF, a charity foundation set up by the Queen, helps childless couples with financial difficulties to obtain treatment or counselling.
"To the mothers, I know what it is like to pine for a child. We were tried and tested by God but we never gave up hope.
"I would like to pay my respects to my husband for having always supported me for nine and a half years to get treatment ... in order to conceive a child.
"He has spent so much getting the treatment. For all that, I have managed to give him four IVF (in-vitro fetrilisation) babies ... We know what it is like to need the treatment and finally hold your child in your arms," said Tunku Azizah.
Tunku Azizah also thanked TAFF committee members and doctors who worked to make sure the IVF treatments were successful.
The royal pair, who was also serenaded by the TAFF children, presented 60 couples with offer letters to go through IVF treatment.
Sponsors also took the opportunity to present the foundation with their contributions.
The first child of TAFF with #1, Jaden Samuel Desan, is now aged 13.
His parents, Shanty Vellasamy and Vengga Desan, said the gift of a child after many childless years is indescribable.
"I cannot express how the feeling is to have a child of your own after years of wanting one of my own," said Shanty.
