KUCHING: A five-year-old boy suffering from Global Development Delay (GDD) disease and DiGeorge Syndrome since birth received Hari Raya Aidilfitri cheers from Hope Place Kuching.
(A child with GDD typically presents with a delay in multiple developmental areas, such as speech and language, social, cognition, play and motor skills while a child with DiGeorge Syndrome has congenital heart problems, specific facial features, frequent infections, developmental delay, learning problems and cleft palate.)
The charitable non-governmental organisation (NGO) said among the health problems which the little boy faced were artery blockage, thyroid, chronic lung disease, physical development delay, congenital heart disease and asthma.
“Every Muslim is preparing for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and looking forward to the long holidays with great anticipation. However, the little boy’s focus remains on the ability to breathe properly and not on festivities.
“Although the little boy is five-year-old, his body is like a two-year-old toddler. When we visited him, he looks like any ordinary and active inquisitive boy despite his size, inability to talk, and multiple health problems,” the NGO said yesterday (April 28).
The little boy uses diapers and consumer special milk powder through tube feeding as well as liquefied porridge.
According to the little boy’s father, the family does not have any financial problems, but his special milk powder is too expensive.
Elaborating further, the father said the little boy consumed a can of milk per week and each can cost more than RM90.
Said Hope Place: “We are supplying the little boy with special milk powder and diapers. Even though this contribution may be little, we hope the family with have a great Raya celebration this year.
“We would like to thank all public donors who generously contributed special milk powder for those in need like the little boy.”
