RM36,000 and supplies for single mother with disabled child

 

Yaashika strapped into the new special wheelchair received from a kind donor in their home at Pandan Indah.

PETALING JAYA: Single mother S Kogila Vani can now breathe a sigh of relief, thanks to the generosity of donors who have come to the rescue of her disabled child, Yaashika, who can’t talk or walk.

A total of RM36,528 has been raised for them so far after an FMT appeal was published this week. Kogila has also received a special wheelchair for Yaashika, diapers, baby formula, as well as medical equipment such as gastric buttons. More items are expected in the coming week.

“I am seriously thankful to all the donors. I’m so relieved to be able to give Yaashika what she needs,” she told FMT.

With Yaashika’s immediate needs taken care of, she felt more hopeful about their future. “I can now focus on securing a better job, preferably one that allows me to work remotely so that I can keep taking care of my daughter,” she said.

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One donor, who wished to remain anonymous, hoped the authorities would be more sensitive to cases like Kogila’s. “The authorities shouldn’t wait for cases like this to be highlighted by the media to reach out to help. They can do so much better,” he said.

Yaashika, 5, has visual and hearing impairments and is unable to talk or walk. She has undergone surgical procedures, a gastrostomy and tracheostomy.

Kogila needs to feed her daughter every four hours and must ensure that she is breathing properly at all times as any blockage in her airways could be fatal.

Kogila was divorced last year and receives some monthly payments from her former husband and RM500 a month from the welfare department, but it is not enough to cover Yaashika’s medical costs, which can reach up to RM2,000 a month.

She has an online business selling traditional Indian clothing but can only make between RM100 and RM150 a month, half the earnings from a food business which she had to give up to care for her daughter. - FMT