On November 29, 2011, in Complaints & Actions, MCA Youth
GEORGE TOWN: Bedridden Beh Kuan Kyn flew to Taiwan with high hopes of recovering from his brain disease.
He will be at the China Medical University Beigang Hospital where his rare Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (Adem) disease will be treated.
The 21-year-old, accompanied by his parents, an aunt, a doctor and a nurse, left the Penang International Airport early yesterday for KLIA where they took a connecting flight to Taipei.
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| Seeking recovery: Kuan Kyn being assisted to board his Taiwan-bound flight at Penang International Airport yesterday. With him are Geek Sim (with backpack), Seberang Perai (South) Haemodialysis Centre staff member Teoh Siew Tiang (second from right) and MAS employees. |
“We have high hopes our son will have a partial or complete recovery after the surgery,” said his mother Ching Geek Sim, 48, before the 6.45am flight to KLIA.
She will be with her son in Taiwan for about six months for the follow-up treatment while her husband Beh Hai Chong and sister Ching Geek Yong will stay for about a week.
Kuan Kyn, a former student of SMK Krian in Parit Buntar, Perak, had come down with fever in August, 2008.
One thing led to another before he eventually lost his speech and the use of his limbs.
Upon tests, Kuan Kyn was diagnosed with Adem – an immune-mediated disease of the brain which can occur following a viral infection.
His plight was reported in The Star on Aug 27 when the Lions Club of Krian set up a committee to raise funds for him.
It raised about RM390,000 for his treatment which is expected to cost more than RM200,000.
The family have since said they would donate any extra money to another deserving patient.
Geek Sim said she went through sleepless nights to prepare for the trip.
“I don’t feel nervous but I am excited and glad to be given the opportunity to send my son for the surgery,” she said.
Geek Yong, 42, said Kuan Kyn was required to undergo a full medical check-up upon arrival at the hospital in Beigang town, which is a three-hour drive from Taipei.
At the airport to send off the family was Parit Buntar MCA division Youth chief Khor Chin Ghee.
The MCA headquarters donated RM23,000 for the six MAS flight tickets while the air- line waived more than RM12,000 in surcharges.
“We are grateful to MAS for granting approval to accommodate the medical equipment on the flights,” Khor said.
-The Star-
From MCA Youth
