KOTA KINABALU: Yong Chee Soon, 15, still can recall when his younger brother was still active, running around the village playing football with his friends.
Everything has changed since three years ago, when his brother Chee Siang, 14, was admitted to the Likas Women and Children’s Hospital after he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia.
Chee Soon did not continue with his schooling at SM St Peter Telipok for he took the decision to look after Chee Siang.
“I am the eldest in the family and it falls upon me to take the responsibility to look after my brother. He is the second of six children in the family.
“I didn’t really like to go to school and at the same time I don’t want my mother to be burdened in the hospital to attend to my brother. My mother should be looking after our two-year-old youngest brother at home,” said Chee Soon.
For three years, Chee Siang had been commuting to and fro the hospital but his condition has recently worsened and has been quite critical over the past few weeks.
Chee Soon said he wants to look for a job in the city but he does not have the heart to leave his brother alone in the ward.
He wants to be by his brother’s bedside every time the medical team cleans his wound which he incurred about a week ago.
He just wants to be by his brother’s side when he screams in pain.
“I just want to comfort him whenever he is in pain. I have always said to him that I will always be there for him.
“Today (yesterday) a group of kind-hearted people came here, to fulfill Chee Siang’s wish to have a Sony PSP. At least he can play games to ward off his boredom. He was so happy with the first Christmas gift he has ever received,” said Chee Soon.
The Children’s Wish Society (CWS) of Malaysia headed by vice president Teoh Teik Hoong, brought untold joy to the children at the Likas Women and Children’s Hospital yesterday by fulfilling the wishes of 11 children who are suffering from terminal and life-threatening illnesses.
Another beneficiary, four-year-old Siti Aryani Jaim, who is suffering from resistant rickets, smilingly admired a Pink Panther doll and three pieces of cartoon CDs given to her by CWS.
Her mother, Nuri Jaafar, 37, who has been with her daughter since 2008 in the hospital, thanked CWS for fulfilling Aryani’s wish.
“Aryani actually wanted a Mickey Mouse doll but she also wanted a pink and long-legged doll. I am sure she is happy with the Christmas gift.
“I cannot leave her in this hospital as she needs intensive care. I thank the CWS for giving the doll to Aryani. I really appreciate their effort to bring the smile back on my daughter’s face,” she said.
The other beneficiaries were Syahmzysyah Shareen, five, and Norhazlinah Mohammad, eight, who are suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Pooja Mail, 10, and Mohd Ikohwan Mohd, 10, who suffer from renal failure, Jude Jimbul, 10, suffering from acute myeloid leukemia, Calvin Shim Khai Vun, 12, with Ewing’s sarcoma lung metastases, Arean Juster, 10, suffering from severe aplastic anaemia, Mohd Syafis Abdullah, six, with rhabdomyosarcoma metastasis and Danial Azmi, three, with acute lymphoblastic.
According to Teoh, a total of 24 wishes were fulfilled by CWS in the city, with 11 of them in hospital while the rest having been momentarily discharged.
He said CWS will continue to raise awareness on the plight of unfortunate children who face hardship, pain and the prospect of not being able to fight the illnesses afflicting them.
“CWS would also raise awareness on the urgency of early detection and treatment of diseases. We will be working with the Ministry of Health in raising this awareness,” he added.
Also present yesterday were CWS secretary Nik Rozana Nik Hassan and CWS board member Jaswinder Kaur Kler.
During the visit, CWS also gave away 200 hampers to children warded in the hospital and 200 gingerbread men courtesy of the Promenade Hotel.