KUCHING: Six-month-old baby Cyrus Bong Khai Tze, who is diagnosed with biliary atresia, will be able to undergo a liver transplant surgery soon as a sum of RM220,000 has been successfully raised for his liver transplant and other medical fees.
Community Care Enrichment Programme Foundation (CCEP) chief executive officer (CEO) Yee Poo Yoon said the fund was raised within two days.
“The foundation intends to raise RM60,000 first to solve Cyrus’ current medical expenses.
“After Cyrus gains enough weight for the operation, then we will commence the second round of the fundraising.
“Unexpectedly, the response was overwhelming. The amount of RM220,000 was raised in just two days,” she said.
Yee added from the amount raised, RM160,000 would be for the liver transplant surgery, RM15,000 for three months of medical expenses and special milk powder supply, RM20,000 for follow-up visits after the surgery and RM25,000 for medical expenses after the operation.
“This is also the highest amount raised by CCEP Foundation since its establishment. Thank you for your trust in CCEP Foundation, especially friends in East Malaysia who responded very quickly after reading the news about Cyrus,” she said.
Meanwhile, Cyrus’s parents are touched by the donations that have been raised.
“Here, I represent my child and thank every kind-hearted person. It is you who have given Little Cyrus a chance to live. Otherwise, we will not know when we will have the money for Cyrus to undergo the operation,” Cyrus’ father, Bong Tong Fook said.
Bong also said that according to the doctors, surgery could not be done yet as Cyrus was too small and underweight.
“The doctor can’t perform a CT test until he weighs nine kilograms.
“If Cyrus successfully achieves the required weight, the doctor expects the operation to be performed in January or February next year,” he said.
Earlier, New Sarawak Tribune reported that Cyrus’s disease did not meet the requirements for insurance claims. The baby needs RM120,000 for his surgery fees and RM60,000 for preoperative medical expenses at the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
