The young girl is in desperate need of RM260,000 for a cord blood transplant.
Carmen’s mother Chin Chui Ling, 42, said her daughter was diagnosed when she was four.
“In the beginning, she did not require frequent blood transfusions, but now, she goes to the hospital for a transfusion every two weeks, sometimes more. Watching her go through the process is heart-breaking but Carmen is brave and rarely complains,” she said.
Housewife Chin and her husband Sim Kim Joo, 54, recently found out that such a transplant was available at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou, Taiwan.
“We have no choice but to go abroad as it may take a year or two before Carmen gets the chance to undergo a similar operation here,” she added. Both Chin and her husband are thalassemia carriers but Carmen is the only one of their three children who has the disease.
Chin said her salesman husband earned just enough to cover the family’s expenses.
“My oldest son is only 18 but has decided to work to help us with our finances. The 17-year-old is still in school,” she said. The couple approached Lobak assemblyman Anthony Loke Siew Fook for assistance.
Loke said the transplant was estimated to cost RM350,000 but the Sim family had already raised RM90,000.
Thalassemia is a genetic disorder which causes decreased and defective production of hemoglobin, a molecule found inside all red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body.
Those who wish to contribute can send their cheques addressed to the Sim Carmen Trust Fund to Loke’s office at 1st Floor, 169, Jalan Tuanku Munawir, 70000 Seremban, or bank in their contributions directly into Alliance Bank account 05017-0-02-974367-5 (Sim Carmen Trust Fund).
For further details, contact Loke at 06-763 4525.
Much appreciated ! :)
