GEORGE TOWN: Generous Malaysians have made it possible for Form Four student T. Kavinraj to undergo surgery for a rare disease called Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) syndrome.
The disease has caused Kavinraj, 16, to vomit whatever he eats or drinks since March last year.
His father S. Thangrajan, 47, a lorry driver, said donations had started pouring in since the day The Star Online carried a story about Kavinraj's condition on Monday (Jan 9).
"My son is undergoing surgery today and we wish to thank all Malaysians who came together to contribute for my son's surgery and to The Star for highlighting my son's plight.
"We are overwhelmed with the love and support we have received so far and just wish to inform the generous public that the amount we needed for the surgery has been met," he said Wednesday (Jan 11).
At time of publication, Kavinraj was still in surgery at a private hospital here.
Thangrajan had said that Kavinraj's surgery was expected to cost about RM150,000, and he had only been able to come up with about RM50,000 from his medical insurance and donations by well-wishers.
As a lorry driver, Thangrajan's monthly income is about RM3,500 and he is the sole breadwinner of the family.
His wife S. Valarmathee, 43, is a housewife and the couple has an 18-year-old daughter too.
Thangrajan had also said that he had exhausted most of the amount allowed under his medical insurance coverage.
SMA syndrome is defined as compression of the third portion of the duodenum between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery.
