Case No. 888: Da Ai’s Crowdfunding for a Two-Month-Old Baby for His Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Surgery as well as Milk Powder
“Help a baby with a second-degree cleft lip for his surgery fee and life expenses”
Supian bin Salleh was a gardener with a monthly salary of RM600. He was fired due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was forced to return to his orang asli village and work in an oil palm with a monthly salary of RM300. It is impossible for him to afford the life expenses for the family of six, not to mention his new-born’s cleft lip surgery fee.
Supian’s youngest son, Azman was born two months ago with a cleft lip and he needs a tube to consume milk to date. The doctor recommended a reconstruction of the lip and palate with an artificial cartilage, but this surgery is not included in the government hospital subsidised programme. Hence, with Supian’s request, Banting Hospital referred him to Persatuan Kebajikan Amal Da Ai Malaysia.
If a surgery is not performed, the baby might face confidence issue due to his appearance while growing up. Besides, he will also have problems with eating and learning. The related surgery fee is RM5,000 in government hospitals.
Supian and his 35-year-old wife Norsila A/P Bidin have 4 kids. In addition to Azman, they have a 14-year-old daughter, a 12-year-old son and a 6-year-old son. They all are studying before the pandemic paused their education.
Norsila has to take care of her children, so Supian is forced to be the sole breadwinner. They are currently living in an orang asli village at Banting, Selangor.
They are living in a house reserved for the orang asli, left by Norsila’s mother to her. Fortunately, they do not need to pay any rentals. But the pitiful income of RM300 is insufficient to support their living. They do not have any furniture at home apart from the chairs and a dining table left by Norsila’s mother. To rub salt into the wound, they cannot turn on their lights during the day to save their expenses. Norsila’s mother visits her once in a while as she is living nearby.
Supian does not have a guaranteed job. If the pandemic persists, their living conditions will definitely become worse.
Supian and his wife have entrusted Da Ai to crowdfund for them in Malaysia. A total of RM12,800 is needed, the details are as follows:
Cleft lip and cleft palate surgery fee RM5,000
Milk powder and diaper RM250 *12 = RM3,000
Food expenses RM400 *12 = RM4,800
Persatuan Kebajikan Amal Da Ai Malaysia calls upon enthusiastic philanthropists to lend a hand to Mr. Supian and his family. Thank you.
