Lee Minn Xuen never thought she would need to rely on medical equipment to go to school, until she was diagnosed with Mild Thoracolumbar Scoliosis three years ago. - Pic courtesy
Lee Minn Xuen never thought she would need to rely on medical equipment to go to school, until she was diagnosed with Mild Thoracolumbar Scoliosis three years ago. - Pic courtesy

KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Minn Xuen, 10, never thought she would need to rely on medical equipment to go to school, until she was diagnosed with Mild Thoracolumbar Scoliosis three years ago.

She can only watch as her friends play sports in school because her body movements are very limited.

Her spine had a 31-degree bend. The bend improved to 21 degrees after more than a year of wearing a spinal brace. But the brace does not fit her body anymore.

She is currently seeking a new 3D spinal brace. Her father, Lee Teck Seng, cannot afford it as he is a mobile phone repairman and her mother, Tee Meng See, is a housewife.

The family needs RM5,000 for a brace from Teh Lin Prosthetic & Orthopedic.

Teck Seng said when Minn Xuen started wearing the spinal brace in May last year, he had to withdraw money from his Employees Provident Fund (EPF) account to pay for the brace.

The couple was sad to learn that their only daughter had inherited the same spinal abnormality from Tee, who had an operation to correct it when she was 12 years old.

The couple has always given endless support to Minn Xuen, hoping she could live a normal life like her friends.

Those who wish to help can send cheques made payable to the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund to Group Corporate Communications Department, Media Prima Bhd, Level 1, Anjung Riong, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, with the patient's name written on the reverse side of the cheque.

The public can also deposit donations into Maybank current account 5141 0532 3170 and indicate the patient's name on the "recipient's reference" or "other payment details" fields.