Surgery needed

MALACCA: Historic City’s pioneer school SMK St Francis and two of its associates are in a marathon to save the life of the school’s Form Four student who has been given only three months’ to live due to an end-stage Caroli disease.

Caroli disease is a rare congenital disorder where the patient’s life is abnormal and the 16-year-old student Teng Cyun Shen has been diagnosed with the ailment since birth.

Teng has been given only 90 days to survive by doctors at University Malaya Medical Centre unless he undergoes a liver transplant at the National University Hospital in Singapore by next week.

Hoping to save the young boy, principal of the school Lee Bun Chuan, the school’s Parents Teachers Associations chairman Desmond G. De Souza and group of alma maters have bandied together in a bid to see Teng continues living a normal life.

De Souza who spoke to Star Metro yesterday, said a donation drive was initiated where a trust fund was set-up under Teng’s name.

“We receive good response from all Franciscans, his classmates, schoolmates, ex-students and teachers. They have done their part in contributing towards the fund.

“However, the package for a cadaveric liver transplant in Singapore cost close to RM600,000 as Teng need to stay in Singapore for three months for continuous check-ups,” he said.

This situation, De Souza said has delayed the fund from being filled-up and the PTA felt it should embark on a public donation drive in a race to save Teng’s life.

“We need help and do not want to see the bright boy succumbing to this ailment at a young age,” he said.

De Souza said the school and the others have done their best to collect enough funds but due to the quantum, all of them are unable to meet the deadline where Teng needs to undergo an immediate transplant as his organ has deteriorated to acute stage.

Teng’s mother Lin Choo Ngo, 51 a single mother was also present during the interview but was too distraught after being told that her son only have a few more months to live.

“I only want to see my son survive, please help me,” the mother of four said.

Malacca Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin also appealed to the public to give Teng a chance to live.

“His parents are financially unstable and with a huge amount needed for the transplant, it’s impossible for them to garner the sum single-handedly,” he said.

Mak also praised Lee for giving special attention to Teng’s case despite his busy schedule as a principal of the school.