Description
Case No. 1717: After six years of staying in the hospital without ever going home, the little boy can finally be discharged and return home. However, his parents are unable to afford the necessary nursing equipment to care for him and save his life. We earnestly request donations.
Hariss A/L Kesavan was born six months ago and has been plagued by illness ever since. He has been hospitalized for treatment, including undergoing two important surgeries. Now, he can finally be discharged, which is something his parents have been eagerly awaiting. However, his father’s meagre income cannot afford the cost of RM16,800.00 to purchase the necessary nursing equipment for his son. We sincerely request donations from the enthusiastic public to help this young boy preserve his life, overcome these challenging times, and recover as soon as possible.
Since entering the hospital at the end of October 2017, the boy’s condition has fluctuated, and he has been unable to leave the intensive care unit for a full six years. His mother, Rekha, tells us that her son has gone through several life-threatening situations during these years in the hospital. Whenever she receives an urgent call from the hospital, her heart feels as if it’s being pounded with intense pain, and in that instant, sorrow overwhelms her. Seeing her young son endure such pain at such a tender age, with his hands and feet curled up due to softening of the bones, she feels utterly helpless and unable to alleviate his suffering. She often blames herself. According to the nurses who care for Hariss, when he is awake, his eyes stare straight at the ceiling, his little face displaying the agony caused by his illness.
Both parents eagerly anticipated the birth of their child, and Hariss’s arrival brought immense joy and happiness to the family. However, it didn’t take long for his parents to realise that his growth was different from that of a typical baby. He would frequently experience fever, recurring seizures, and symptoms of malnutrition.
When their son was a few months old, the parents brought him to the hospital for an MRI scan of the brain and spine. The results revealed that Hariss had atlanto-axial subluxation, causing severe narrowing at the cranio-cervical junction. This condition is associated with compression of the upper cervical spinal cord and changes due to softening of the bones. When the parents learned that their son had a congenital illness, they were shocked, filled with self-blame, and felt hopeless. With heavy hearts, they admitted their few-month-old son to the hospital for treatment.
In November 2017, Hariss underwent posterior fossa decompression and a C1 laminectomy. Then, in August 2018, he underwent right autologous rib harvest and craniovertebral junction fusion.
After the surgeries, Hariss had to rely on a tracheostomy ventilator in the paediatric intensive care unit to sustain his life. Despite attempts by the doctors to switch him to a regular oxygen machine, he still couldn’t breathe on his own.
After six years of continuous treatment, when the hospital approved Hariss’s discharge, his parents, grandparents, and family were overjoyed. They had persevered and waited for many years to finally have him back home. However, in order to survive, the little boy must have a portable ventilator machine to assist with oxygen, a medical bed with an inflatable mattress, and a suction machine for use during the recovery period at home.
Hariss’s parents have a meagre income. His father works as a chief janitor, and his mother had to resign from her position in the personnel department to take care of her soon-to-be-discharged son. As a result, they are unable to bear the costs of all the necessary medical equipment. They have reached out to us for assistance, hoping to initiate a crowdfunding campaign to meet the expenses.
The crowdfunding items are as follows:
Portable ventilator machine – RM16,300.00
Suction machine – RM500.00
Total: RM16,800.00
At the request of Hariss’s parents, we are fully managing the crowdfunding process and earnestly appealing to the enthusiastic public to generously donate to them. We also kindly ask everyone to help spread this message so that more kind-hearted individuals can assist the little boy in overcoming his difficulties and recovering as soon as possible. Thank you.
【Update-30 June 2023】
Hariss has returned home after staying six years in the hospital and never leaving.
When Hariss was ready to be discharged, the medical team, including the attending physician, arrived to accompany him home while making sure the medical bed and other equipment were set up and utilised correctly. After finishing their task, the group sat for pictures in front of the bed with Hariss, creating a heartwarming and poignant mood. It had been difficult for the employees to part with Hariss after more than 2,000 days of providing care.
The hospital sent an ambulance for taking Hariss home, and our social workers also loaded the ambulance with a medical bed and all the supplies Hariss would require to care for him.
The RM16,800.00 raised through fundraising allowed Hariss A/L Kesavan to continue receiving care at home and maintain a stable condition. We are grateful to the doctors and nurses for their caring care and to everyone who contributed. We send the best wishes for your well-being, peace, and family’s happiness.
Rekha, Hariss’ mother, is pleased of the contributions made by individuals all around the nation that enabled her son to leave the hospital and be reunited with his family. She also conveyed her appreciation for the assistance.
