KUALA LUMPUR: Abbil Haqim A. Aziz can only cry when looks at his baby son Muhammad Arifbillah Abbil Haqim.
The 4-month-old boy is wrapped in wires and relies on breathing assistance.
Since being diagnosed with Atrioventricular Septal Defect at birth, the youngest of three boys and a girl has remained at hospital and never returned home.
Arifbillah also has Southeast Asian Ovalocytosis, or minor Down syndrome.
Abbil, 40, a labourer here, said his wife, Fatin Suhada Edal, 23, gave birth to their son in her hometown in Johor.
Due to Arifbillah's condition, Abbil had to travel from here often to see his son.
The boy was eventually referred to Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur and doctors now need to perform surgery to treat his condition.
Abbil said he had sold two of his cars to cover the operation's cost, but he was still unable to foot the bill.
When talking about their son's condition, Abbil and Fatin were overwhelmed with emotion.
Abbil said: "I wish I could pull out all those wires from my son's body just so that he doesn't have to suffer like that any more. Seeing him that way breaks my heart."
He said it was also hard for his family.
"I have never thought of giving up. I had to go back and forth from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru by motorcycle for two months to check on my son at Sultanah Aminah Hospital."
Fatin, who has beta thalassemia and hypothyroidism, said she did not have any symptom during her pregnancy.
She learned about her baby's illness only after giving birth when he had breathing difficulties.
The parents wished for their child to recover as quickly as possible and grow normally like other children.
Abbil said the family had gone to many hospitals because many of them could not provide treatment.
"One hospital told me that my son only had a 50-50 chance to live. I almost gave up, but I kept on searching for treatment."
The couple need to raise RM80,000 for surgery at Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur to treat Arifbillah's deteriorating heart and high pressure in his lungs.
Abbil said if left untreated, his baby's lifespan would be depleted.
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.
he public can deposit their donation in Bank Muamalat account number 1401-0008-8427-18 or Maybank account number 5141-0532-3170 and indicate the patient's name on the recipient's reference or Other Payment Details fields.
Donations to the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund are tax-deductible.
