Thursday July 12, 2012

Husband’s bout with cancer eats into family’s normal life

KUALA LUMPUR: Sales executive M. Meenachi Sundram Pillay, 29, was living a normal and healthy life until early this year when he was diagnosed with brain tumour.

His wife, M. Theladawathi, 28, said her husband constantly suffered from headaches, but did not realise that it was something serious.

“It became worse when his hands started to tremble and at times parts of his body would become numb. He first received treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) for four months before being transferred to Ampang Hospital,” she told a press conference organised by MIC Youth secretary C. Sivarraajh yesterday.

Theladawathi had approached Sivarraajh to help get financial aid for her husband.

In dire straits : Meenachi Sundaram (centre) showing the X-ray of his brain to Sivarraajh while his wife Theladawathi and children Surthike (front) and Tamillage look on during the press conference.

She said that after several tests, doctors confirmed that her husband's condition was due to cancer.

“I have to take him to hospital using public transport every five days as I do not drive,” she said.

She added that she had temporarily stopped sending her daughter, M. Surthike, five, to kindergarten as she could not afford to pay the fees.

Theladawathi, who stays in Puchong, said that since her husband could no longer work, the family depended on friends and family to help pay their daily expenses.

“We have to fork out more than RM3,000 per visit for his cancer medications, and it could go up to RM12,000 a month,” said the former clerk who quit her job to take care of her husband.

Sivarraajh said MIC was currently seeking help from the Welfare Department and the Social Security Organisation to help the family.

“We are also helping Theladawathi obtain a driving licence,” he said.

Those wishing to help the family can bank in directly to Theladawathi's CIMB savings account (1262-000-4818523) or contact MIC Youth at 016-275 7155.

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