Birthday Comes Early for Three-Year-Old Muhammad Qayyum Fiqri Syamsudin

Wednesday, 6 August 2008

Birthday Comes Early for Three-Year-Old Muhammad Qayyum Fiqri Syamsudin

Children's Wish Society of Malaysia (CWS) appeals to Malaysians to help bring cheer to terminally ill children

Help us bring cheer to children who are stricken with terminal diseases across the country and bring a smile back to their faces, urges Children's Wish Society of Malaysia president Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam.

Stepping forward to extend a smile and a helping hand to grant wishes for children who have been diagnosed with terminal diseases is no easy feat for many who have been working untiringly behind the scenes of the newly set-up society.

“We have set ourselves up to bring some cheer to the unfortunate children out there who have been afflicted with diseases which may take their lives away.”

“It is a challenging task to push ahead in times like these, to try and grant a wish the child may have, and hope to see a smile on his face when it is fulfilled,” said Navaratnam, adding that the society needed more Malaysians to support it to do more of what it had set itself up to do.

Navaratnam said there were many ways and means for the public to help. “They can sign up as members or when a deserving case comes to our attention, the public can donate in cash or in kind. What's most important to remember is this – we are racing against time to grant their wish.”

The latest recipient of CWS was three-year-old Muhammad Qayyum Fiqri Syamsudin who was feted to a birthday party at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital yesterday (Tuesday, July 7 2008).

Qayyum as his mother, Elfitra Hamid and the nurses call him, is a Down Syndrome patient and is currently suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

“He used to dance when he hears joget music. Now he can't because of his condition. Over the last one week, he has lost appetite and even throws up milk that I feed him,”

“He cries most of the time because of the pain he endures. I am glad this birthday party was organised for him. Hopefully, it will give him the spirit to fight on,” Elfitra said.

CWS Executive Director Allan Hubbert who was present at the birthday party said the party was organised at a moment's notice.

“Generous support came from Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd, who had engaged a clown for the event, a birthday cake was sponsored by Secret Recipe, light food by Omok Restaurant and even fruit juices were sponsored by an individual.”

“We are thankful to them for coming forward to help us fulfill this wish. Malaysians are truly very generous people,” he said.

“On August 10, we will be organising a Charity Durian Festival at Subang Parade in Subang Jaya, Selangor to help raise much needed funds for the work we do.”

“It is our hope that people will come forward to support this event,” he said.