New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: She is anxiously waiting for a donor heart but it has not stopped gutsy Tee Hui Yi from signing on as an organ donor.

After spending the last 12 months at the National Heart Institute (IJN) and surviving with the help of a mechanical heart, the 14-year-old knows just how important organ donation is.

And so, two days ago she pledged her eyes, kidneys, skin and bones.

“I hope to help people who need organ transplants. I hope everyone will sign up to donate their organs,” she said.

The Batu Pahat teenager said she was disappointed that she still could not get a suitable heart despite several offers. However, I am still very hopeful and strong in spirit. My mum and the people around me (in IJN) give me the strength and support,” she said.

Despite her brave words, there have been dark days when lugging around the 9kg battery pack to power her mechanical heart became a burden that was too much for her to bear.

Tee said she cried whenever her mother Dina Bato Sambua was upset and when she thought about going home.

Things that other teenagers take for granted have become luxuries for her. For instance, Tee had not been able to take a full shower for the past year and her education is on hold.

Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, IJN consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and director of the mechanical heart programme, said Tee’s condition was stable but she was prone to infection.

“She is not eating well and we need to give her supplementary feeding through a tube from her nose to her stomach.

“She urgently needs a suitable heart as she is now entirely dependent on her mechanical heart.

“The longer she waits, the greater the risk of her facing multiple organ failure,” he added.

Yesterday, though, Tee put aside her worries for a while as she excitedly greeted Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who was visiting IJN.

Shahrizat, who is also the chairman of the National Welfare Foundation, was at the heart institute to present RM15,000 and gifts to 150 patients in the Mawar, Dahlia and Melor wards.

She later handed out another RM5,000 to 10 needy patients during a press conference. The sponsors were the foundation and IJN.

Meanwhile, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the party would contribute up to RM50,000 to help Tee obtain a donor heart, provided the balance was raised by others.