RM35,510 needed for corrective surgery

A 24-YEAR-OLD woman from Penang needs RM35,510.50 to pay for orthopaedic implants required for a spinal fusion surgery.

Tan Swee Yee's adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has worsened from a 40-degree curvature when she was 13 years old to 70 degrees. She now suffers from severe back pain, numbness in her left leg and difficulty standing or walking.

She first noticed that her waist was slightly uneven compared with other people when she was 13.

"My elder sister, who was then studying radiology at Universiti Malaya, was the first to suspect I have scoliosis."

Her parents took her to a hospital in Penang, where doctors found that her spinal curvature had reached 40 degrees.

Tan sought further treatment at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in 2021, by which time her spinal curvature had progressed to 70 degrees.

To compound her situation, a magnetic resonance imaging scan conducted during her surgical assessment revealed a tumour at the L2-L3 level of her spine.

She is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the tumour today. Doctors will determine the next steps after assessing the tumour and her recovery.

The money required covers the orthopaedic implants for the spinal fusion procedure.

The timing of the spinal fusion surgery will also depend on her post-operative recovery and the availability of a surgical slot.

Tan's financial difficulties are compounded by her family's circumstances. Her father died in 2021, while her mother is visually impaired.

Tan expressed gratitude to Media Prima's humanitarian fund and those who had contributed towards helping her obtain treatment.

"I am grateful to everyone who has helped me. Thank you very much."

Those wishing to help can send cheques payable to the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund to the Group Corporate Communications Department, Media Prima Bhd, Level 1, Anjung Riong, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

They may also donate to the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund via its Bank Muamalat account (1401 0008 8427 18).