MANY of us would take our heartbeat for granted but 18-year-old Khoo Yeak Xuan who has many promising years ahead will now face the reality of death staring at him every second of the day and night.
Without a permanent pacemaker to allow his heart to continue beating, the SPM Top Scorer with 10 As may not survive if he does not get his third heart surgery.
Khoo had had to undergo his first heart surgery at the age of one – and the second one in May this year – when he had to be admitted to the hospital for a heart surgery.
However, several weeks after the second surgery, the pupil of SMK Dato’ Bentara Luar in Batu Pahat, Johor started experiencing weak heartbeats and a slower heart rate – a sign that his heart valves are not functioning well.
It therefore has become crucial that he undergoes a third heart surgery to implant a life-saving pacemaker.
But without the financial means – his mother Tan Bee Yan is a housewife and father Khoo Keng Siong is a factory technician – there is no light at the end of the tunnel for the high achiever.
Describing him as a good child bestowed upon the family by God, Khoo’s mother said she cherishes and appreciates her son deeply.
In addition to his academic excellence, Khoo has displayed artistic talents since childhood by having won many awards in art competitions. He is also skilled at playing chess.
During his primary school years, he was elected as the school’s role model student and has also maintained a close relationship with his teachers.
According to Persatuan Kebajikan Amal Da Ai Malaysia, it is already challenging for Khoo’s parents to support their family of six given the family’s limited income.
For the record, Khoo has an eldest sister (aged 20), an elder brother (19) and another youngest brother (16), all of whom are diligent students with excellent academic achievements.
“Khoo’s mother told our community workers that she is a mother ‘who sheds tears but unable to cry in front of my son’,” the social welfare non-government organisation (NGO) pointed out in its statement.
“We understand her feelings; his mother needs to be strong. If she were to cry, it would put tremendous pressure on Yeak Xuan. As her son already has a heart condition, she doesn’t want to burden him further with negative emotions or see their home enveloped in negativity.”
Helpless and desperate, his parents have turned to Da Ai for assistance, hoping that the NGO can help crowdfund to save Khoo’s precious life.
Based on the medical reports, Khoo suffers from a severe congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) which includes pulmonary artery stenosis, ventricular septal defect, aortic enlargement and right ventricular hypertrophy.
Da Ai Malaysia is seeking to raise RM60,000 for the surgery. Corporations and individuals can donate to Da Ai’s official RHB Bank account No. 2140-3500-1466-01 by citing his case number which is “1730”.
Donors are encouraged to send the bank slip to Da Ai’s social worker either via Whatsapp (https://daaimalaysiapj90.wasap.my), WeChat (Cathy_7413) or e-mail ([email protected]) to calculate fundraising progress and get an official receipt.
“This is an urgent life-saying appeal,” the Da Ai’s statement read. “He has a bright future ahead of him. Therefore, no matter how significant the challenges they face, they cannot give up.” – July 23, 2023
