Brave little fighter needs RM120,000 to breathe and live

KOTA KINABALU (Sept 9): From the very first moment he entered this world, baby Affan, now just eight months old, has been battling for his life.

Born with a rare and life-threatening condition called tracheal stenosis — a severe narrowing of the windpipe — he faces the constant risk of suffocation or even cardiac arrest.

His mother, Desria, recalls that Affan was rushed straight into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after birth.

“He had omphalocoele, where his abdominal organs were protruding through the umbilical cord. He had to undergo immediate surgery,” she said, her voice trembling.

But that was only the beginning.

Doctors later discovered even more complications: Affan had a perforated Meckel’s diverticulum, requiring another surgery to remove and reconnect part of his small intestine.

“Affan was then diagnosed with tracheal stenosis. The doctors said surgery is necessary — but it carries high risks. We have to monitor him 24/7. When he has phlegm, he struggles to breathe. If there’s no phlegm, he breathes fine — but it can change in seconds,” she shared.

“I can only step away when he’s asleep. That’s the only time I dare to rest.”

Feeding has also been a challenge. For months, he was fed through a nasogastric (Ryles) tube, but Affan kept pulling it out.

“Sometimes, I had to reinsert the tube four times a day,” she said.

“Affan is my first and only child. Watching him suffer since birth breaks my heart. I’ve cried so many times. All I want is for my baby to grow up healthy and happy.”

CCEP Foundation CEO, Yvonne Yee, confirmed that Affan, from Pitas, Sabah, has spent most of his life in hospitals. Born full-term, he was admitted into the NICU in Kota Kinabalu right after birth and stayed for one month.

“Affan was diagnosed with tracheal stenosis, a condition that could cut off his breathing at any moment. His airway is dangerously narrow due to a congenital malformation called complete tracheal ring.”

He is currently on CPAP oxygen therapy at home and weighs only 6kg at eight months. Surgery is urgently needed, including:
Tracheoplasty (to widen his airway and prevent suffocation), and
Cardiac surgery to fix a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and patent foramen ovale (PFO).

Affan is the family’s only child. His father, Afizul, once a Grab driver, is now working as a part-time electrician with his brother in Keningau due to a broken car. He earns just RM1,700 per month. Desria stays home full-time to care for Affan.

“We are doing everything we can to raise the RM120,000 needed for these life-saving procedures,” said Yvonne. “Affan deserves a chance to live.”

Those who want to help can make donations to:
CCEP Foundation
RHB Bank: 26219300009342
Enquiries: 03-7955 9999 / 010-2798849
Donation Receipts: https://wa.link/tzmmgy
Website: ccep.org.my
Please indicate patient’s name: AFFAN
For tax-exempt receipts, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/jtBWVNUgxxWZJgzp6
Receipts will be issued within 14 days.