KOTA KINABALU: After receiving sponsorship from S.O.S Heart Fund to ‘fix’ his heart, Rizlan Abdul Manan of Kampung Numbak decided to discontinue his schooling as he was embarrassed when people asked about his scar.
He was only 13 when he was sent to Penang Adventist Hospital for a two-week surgery trip, which was fully sponsored by the Non-Government Organization in 2011.
“I am personally thankful and appreciate the help and contribution from S.O.S Heart Fund to fix my heart. But after the operation, I decided to stop going to school at SK Pulau Sepanggar and seeing my friends.
“I love schooling, but I feel traumatized with my body after the surgery. A nasty scar cannot be avoided. I don’t know what to reply, I don’t know how to react when people start asking about the operation and also my scar. I was not comfortable with everything.
“I asked my mother to tell the school management that I don’t want to continue to secondary school,” he said.
The second of five siblings tried to find a job a few months after quitting school. However, employers rejected him due to his young age.
“I was very active in sports in school, but sometimes my friends did not allow me to play with them because they were worried about my health.
“I always felt pain in my chest after sports, but I never thought about it. When a doctor told me that I need to be ‘fixed’ by an operation, I knew that my condition was not good.
“Luckily the hospital recommended me to S.O.S Heart Fund for a sponsored operation,” said Rizlan who is currently helping his mother to look after the house and his younger siblings.
“Many people contributed to the cost of my operation, and I don’t know how to repay them. When I reach 18, I will find a job and sit for SPM examination. After that, I will decide whether to continue schooling or work,” said Rizlan, who is now 16.
Rizlan was interviewed during the S.O.S Heart Fund Open Day, in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Sabah Council of Social Services (MPMS).
His mother, Siti Wati Jenari accompanied him at the Open Day.
She also shared her experience looking after Rizlan before the operation with other parents who attended the event.
She expressed her sadness and disappointment with Rizlan’s decision to stop schooling.
She hoped Rizlan will change his mind on education, but she would not force him, worrying if he should fall sick again.
“Rizlan was active in school. He played soccer and won a number of medals. But of course he did not tell me because I always get engry if he is active. He always complained to me about his painful chest.
“I never knew he participated in any sport, but after a few days I found his medals and trophy in his room. I really want him to be a healthy child. I want to attend his sports activities without him hiding anything from me.
“When S.O.S Heart Fund came to our house telling me that Rizlan was chosen to receive a free operation in Penang, I was overexcited and did not sleep for a few days. Only Allah can repay S.O.S Heart Fund and its staff and generous sponsors who contributed to the fund,” she added.
Rizlan is one of almost 600 heart patients who received sponsorship from S.O.S Heart Fund since it was was set up in 1981.
Most of them are children below 12 with hole-in-the-heart problems and the organization has also helped them to go for corrective surgeries in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Singapore and Korea.
During the event yesterday, its president Datuk Christine Vanhouten reiterated that they are looking for a piece of land to build a transit home.
She said the organization is appealing to the state government to give them a piece of land for the home so that heart patients may get a transit home where they can stay before and after heart operations.
“Heart patients from outstation, especially those who are from the interior who are going for or underwent operations in Kuala Lumpur or overseas can stay in this home on transit before their departure or going home,” she said.