Case No. 2231: Born at only 28 weeks and weighing just 1.15 kg, baby boy Lee Duo Le had to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) immediately after birth. Now five months old, his lungs remain very fragile. He urgently needs a premature baby's vaccine to reduce the risk of severe infection that could threaten his life.
However, this crucial vaccine costs RM18,800, an amount his parents are unable to afford. We sincerely appeal to kind-hearted individuals to lend a helping hand and help this premature baby overcome this life-threatening challenge.
【The baby spent his earliest days in an incubator.】
On that day, the mother, Chong See Mun (29 years old), suddenly experienced her water breaking and was rushed to the hospital. The doctors originally hoped that she could continue the pregnancy until 32 to 34 weeks, so that the baby would have more time to develop. Unfortunately, the contractions came too quickly and her cervix dilated rapidly. More dangerously, the baby was in a breech position (breech in labour). If she delivered naturally, the baby’s head could become stuck. In order to save the baby, the doctors had no choice but to perform a Caesarean section.
And so, Lee Duo Le arrived in this world earlier than expected, spending his earliest days inside an incubator.
The baby was born with a hole in his heart, his eyes were not fully developed, and he could not breathe on his own. His tiny body required tubes and oxygen support for an entire month. Doctors later informed the mother that the hole in his heart may heal naturally as he grows, while his eyes will continue to develop and require follow-up examinations.
The baby has been very strong and can now breathe on his own without a ventilator. Although he has been discharged from the hospital, his lungs remain extremely fragile. Extra precautions must be taken, and he must avoid contact with too many people to prevent bacterial infections. The doctor advised that the baby must receive the premature baby vaccine to protect his lungs from infection, as the consequences could be very serious.
【Fear of choking during feeding and milk entering the lungs.】
During feeding time, the mother is always extremely careful. If the baby chokes and milk enter his lungs, it could lead to infection. The mother shared that whenever he chokes, his face turns purple, which is very frightening.
The baby is also allergic to breast milk, so he can only rely on a special formula milk, which is very expensive.
At home, there is also a two-year-old sister. She does not understand why her younger brother cannot be brought outside to play. If he could recover soon, they could play together, laugh together, and grow up together. This is the simple yet greatest wish of these young parents.
The mother is a housewife, fully dedicated to caring for the children. The father, Lee Shing Jin (29 years old), works as clerical staff, and his single income supports the family of four.
The cost of special formula milk, continuous medical follow-ups, and daily care has already placed a heavy financial burden on the family. Now, faced with the cost of the premature baby vaccine, they truly cannot afford it. They are not giving up. They have already done everything they can. In their deepest helplessness, they can only turn to us for help.
After review and discussion, we have decided to raise RM18,800 to help cover the cost of baby Lee Duo Le’s premature baby vaccine. We sincerely appeal to kind-hearted members of the public to come together and build a line of protection for this little life. We also hope everyone can help share this appeal, so that the baby can overcome this difficult time as soon as possible. Thank you.
