For 38-year-old Yap Jing Keong, working is no longer an option. After his 23-month-old daughter was diagnosed with brain cancer, he had to stop his e-hailing job and stay home to care for her and his 5-year-old son.
His car has since been sold to cut down on loan repayments, while the family now relies mainly on his wife’s monthly salary of RM2,800. But their daughter’s treatment and care alone can cost around RM5,000 every month.
The family is now appealing for help from members of the public as they struggle to keep up with the expenses.
Her cancer journey started when she was just 4 months old
Yap said his daughter, Yap Zhi Qian, was only three months old when she was hospitalised for 12 days after developing a brain infection. About a month later, something even more worrying happened. Her head suddenly grew by 12cm within just 10 days.
Doctors later discovered a tumour in her brain, and further tests confirmed that she had brain cancer. She is now almost two years old, but her head circumference has reached 57cm due to the condition.
Over the past year, the toddler has gone through eight tumour removal surgeries. However, doctors were unable to remove the tumour completely because it had grown around the cerebellum. Only about half could be removed surgically, with the remaining tumour treated through chemotherapy.
She has since completed her chemotherapy and underwent an MRI in July. The family is scheduled to see her doctor again in October to find out more about her latest condition.
She still needs treatment every week
Despite everything she has gone through, Zhi Qian still cannot stand or lift her head on her own. Her hearing was also affected previously, although she has since started responding when her parents call her.
One of her chemotherapy medications also caused seizures and nosebleeds, forcing doctors to stop that particular drug and switch to another treatment. She continues to take medication to control her seizures. Her treatment journey has now moved beyond hospital procedures.
She needs several forms of supportive therapy every week, including physiotherapy, music therapy and hydrotherapy, as well as other medical supplies. Together, these expenses can add up to around RM5,000 a month.
From one income to barely making ends meet
Yap said much of the family’s previous medical expenses were manageable because treatment was carried out at a government hospital, while charity organisations also provided assistance. But the ongoing rehabilitation and care have created a new financial burden.
His wife earns around RM2,800 a month, while the family still has to cover their daughter’s treatment, daily living expenses and the needs of their other child. With him no longer working, the family is now struggling to make ends meet.
MP steps in with RM20,000 aid
During a recent visit to the family, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok handed over RM20,000 to help ease their financial pressure. The assistance came from her constituency allocation, with RM10,000 given for medical expenses and another RM10,000 as one-off living assistance.
Kok also said the family needs a special supportive chair for their daughter, which can cost around RM13,000 even for a second-hand one. The family is now hoping for further support from members of the public to help cover the toddler’s ongoing treatment and daily care.
Those who would like to contribute can contact Kok’s assistant, Zhu Li Shi, at 011-2081030.
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