Heart Boy Now Suffers From Muscular Dystrophy

KUALA LUMPUR: Nine-year-old B. Tanasegaran, who has undergone two heart bypass operations, has now been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disorder that weakens muscles gradually.

The pupil of SJK (T) West Country, Kajang, has been told that he could be paralysed within four years.

His father Benjamin Thomas said specialist doctors could only prescribe drugs.

There is no known cure for DMD and steroids are usually given to control symptoms to improve the quality of life.

Benjamin said the Agathiyar Hospital in Chennai treated such patients using ayurveda (an ancient Indian system of natural and holistic medicine) but the cost was RM70,000.

I am only a general worker and I have already taken more than RM100,000 in loans to cover the expenses for my sons treatment so far. I am paying the loans back in instalments.

I dont have much after buying milk, vitamins and diapers, and paying the monthly rent, he said.

Benjamin, who also has a seven-year-old daughter who is being looked after by his mother-in-law, approached MIC Youth Social and Welfare bureau head Arvind Krishnan yesterday for financial assistance to send his son for treatment in India.

MIC Youth chief C. Sivarraajh launched the Tanasegaran fund with an initial donation of RM2,000.

Donors can send cheques to the Tanasegaran Benjamin Fund, c/o MIC Youth, 7th Floor Menara Manikavasagam, 1, Jalan Rahmat, off Jalan Tun Ismail, 50350 Kuala Lumpur or deposit into CIMB account 7055 609 040.

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Heart Boy Now Suffers From Muscular Dystrophy