Wan Ahmad welcoming Norashikin and Tarmizi, who is carrying Fakrullah, at Senai International Airport. — Bernama photo
JOHOR BAHARU: Nine-month-old Muhammad Fakrullah Rayqal and his 39-year-old father Mat Tarmizi Zali, who were flown to Renji Hospital in Shanghai to undergo liver transplant in March, arrived home in healthy shape Sunday night.
They arrived at the Senai International Airport at 10.30pm from Kuala Lumpur International Airport after leaving Shanghai onboard Malaysia Airlines flight 0389 at 3.25pm.
They were accompanied by the baby’s mother, Norashikin Gzali, 32, as well as an officer-in-waiting, Marsilayuhaini Baharuddin.
They were met on arrival at the airport by Johor Police chief Datuk Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd and the Johor Royal Malaysian Police Volunteer Reserve (SSPRDM) commandant Datuk Lee Ban Heng.
Speaking to reporters, Norashikin said Muhammad Fakhrullah was diagnosed with liver problem when he was three days old and was immediately referred to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
“He was too small and the liver transplant must be done overseas. The cost of the operation is RM150,000, but SSPDRM was kind enough to bear all the costs, we are so grateful for it, and also for the donations from our caring community.
“We left for Shanghai on March 17 and had received tremendous help and assistance from the Malaysian Embassy in China. Johor Police chief had also deployed an officer-in-waiting to monitor our situation.
“On April 1, Rayqal went in for the liver transplant and after eight-hour surgery, his diseased liver was replaced by a portion of his father’s healthy liver.
“Both of them are recovering well and were allowed to be discharged and to return home yesterday,” she said, adding that all follow up examinations would be done at the PPUM. — Bernama