Help our daughter: Xin Thong’s parents (from right) Kok Kian and Wan together with Low showing photos of Xin Thong and the medication she uses.
IPOH: The family of a 22-year-old Stage Four bone cancer patient is appealing once more for public donations for her treatment and related expenses.
Production controller Wan Wai Kin, 52, said funds collected from the public last year for her daughter Teh Xin Tong, who was diagnosed with sarcoma in 2021, have been used up.
“The money was spent mostly on her medication and treatment as well as daycare services and transportation.
“A year’s supply of Nexavar (an oral chemotherapy medicine) itself costs about RM96,000,” she told a press conference held by Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Low Guo Nan here yesterday.
Other expenses included ambulance services from here to Kuala Lumpur, special daycare services and Xin Tong’s chemotherapy treatment.
“My daughter needed the special daycare services because the slightest movement causes her immense pain, more so after an operation last year.
“My husband and I were not skilled enough to move her without causing her too much pain,” Wan said.
However, the cost for the services, which came up to about RM4,000 per month, was too much for them to bear.
“We stopped after five months and now hire the services once a week at RM80 per session,” she added.
Wan had in February last year appealed for donations for Xin Tong, a former SMJK Sam Tet student, after having exhausted the family’s savings to pay for her treatment in Kuala Lumpur and related expenses.
And within 24 hours, they managed to get about RM200,000 from generous Malaysians.
Wan said her daughter no longer needed to travel to Kuala Lumpur for chemotherapy as the services were now available at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun here.
“She would only need to travel to Kuala Lumpur to do a computed tomography (CT) scan after completing her chemotherapy treatment, which would be about 18 weeks later,” she said.
Wan said Xin Tong’s condition had improved slightly last year after an operation but has got worse since March this year.
“She could walk briefly with the use of a walker but could no longer do so last month.
“The doctor also advised us to stop giving her the Nexavar tablet as it was no longer effective.
“I have three more boxes of the medicine left that I plan to donate to those who need it t,” she added.
MCA’s Low said the family would need about RM100,000 for Xin Tong’s chemotherapy treatment, daycare services, meals and other expenses.
“I told the family that this is the second time they are appealing for help and it could be difficult, though I hope that people will continue to be generous,” he said.
He added that he is appealing to any foundation that will be willing to help them over the long term.
“I also understand that their eldest daughter, who received a full scholarship to study abroad, has returned but has yet to secure a job.
“If she can get a job soon, it would lessen the family’s financial burden,” he said.
Those who wish to help can contact Xin Tong’s father, Teh Kok Kian, at 018-572 1858.
