A Diverse Community Rallies Together to Save A Baby’s Life

Penang, MALAYSIA, 7 June 2024 - Baby Zehan from Bandar Aceh in Aceh, Indonesia was in a critical state when he first set foot in Penang six months ago. The then five-month-old was suffering from a massive teratoma and was rushed to Island Hospital for a life-saving surgery.
According to Dr. Badrul Hisham Yeap, an Adult & Paediatric Surgeon at Island Hospital, the tumour was nearly half his weight and suppressing Zehan’s breathing at that time.
“Zehan came to us gasping for breath. He had to be intubated and was in the Intensive Care Unit for several days to stabilise his condition!” he shared.
Nevertheless, Dr. Badrul and his team, which also included Paediatricians Dr. Ho Sheau Chui and Dr. Tan Pek Yong, and Anaesthetist Dr. Zainisda Zainuddin, were confident that they could help the baby.
In addition to the complexities of operating on a five-month-old, the procedure involved a complicated step that is rarely conducted, even on adults.
“We discovered that the tumour was occupying almost the entire abdomen and stuck to the major organs like the stomach and pancreas. Most importantly, it was encasing a major blood vessel in the liver, which caused much concern. In order to ensure that the tumour was removed completely and in one piece, I had to resect a segment of this blood vessel before reconstructing it,” explained Dr. Badrul.
A key aspect of the success of Baby Zehan’s case is the expertise that each member of the team brought to the table, such as the anaesthetist, who supported the baby’s heart and lung function, and made sure his blood pressure was normal throughout the procedure. Having the right equipment at their disposal also made it easier for them to conduct the surgery safely and minimise blood loss.
In a heartwarming turn of events, one of the issues faced by Zehan’s family was a lack of sufficient funds to afford this complex and complicated treatment. Dr. Badrul expressed his despair that Baby Zehan was deteriorating before his eyes and that the urgent surgery was life-saving. Upon realising this, he led the team of doctors to gather their resources to initiate a fund collection endeavour. The entire community also jumped in to contribute, including a group of international school children.
While the surgery was carried out uneventfully, Baby Zehan’s recovery was challenging due to the longstanding effects of the tumour compressing his lungs. After a six-week stay in Island Hospital, he was finally fit to return to Aceh in mid-January 2024.
Baby Zehan, now 11 months old, was in Penang early June for a follow-up check-up, and the doctors were amazed at how much he is thriving today.
“We are extremely grateful for the exceptional care that Zehan received at Island Hospital, and would like to express our immense appreciation to the doctors here and all donors from Indonesia and Penang who contributed to our baby's medical expenses. Our baby boy is healthy today, and it's thanks to all of you!”said Herizal, the father of Zehan.
The hospital is a prominent medical tourism destination and a finalist in Malaysia’s premier Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital programme. Home to over 80 specialists in diverse areas, it is committed to touching lives and bringing hope to patients and their families.
For more details on Island Hospital, please visit our website at www.islandhospital.com or our social feeds at / islandhospitalpenang .

[@ulfanabila9732]

Thank you Dr. Badrul, may Allah reward you all with kindness 😇..

[@aniesanies7573]

Good hospital

[@Kancutiron]

Badrul the temper man and full of bluffing