(From left) Kiew and Leong being visited by Yee.
KIEW Tze Mei from Sibu, Sarawak, has severe damage to her cochlea which makes hearing aids ineffective.
Doctors have recommended a cochlear implant but Kiew’s family cannot afford the RM72,000 needed for the surgery.
Her family has reached out to CCEP Foundation for help.
In response, foundation chief executive officer Yee Poo Yoon flew all the way to Sibu to visit Kiew and gather more information.
Kiew has been gradually losing her hearing in both ears over the years and was fitted with a hearing aid.
Her family could only afford one hearing aid.
However, in recent years, the effectiveness of the hearing aid has diminished and she needs to get an artificial cochlear implanted.
Her husband Leong Chee Ann runs a small noodle stall,
She has three sons with the eldest working in a paint shop, the second managing a stall at the market and the third unable to work due to prolonged illness and his own child to care for.
The family is facing significant challenges.
In the past when Kiew’s hearing aid was still effective, she helped Leong operate the stall and managed to do household tasks.
However, due to her complete loss of hearing, she is now confined to her home.
She also suffers from diabetes and low blood pressure, leading to falls and injuries.
Her inability to hear prevents her from caring for her grandchild.
Although the hospital did arrange an operation, a fall at home led to Kiew getting an infection which required over a month of hospitalisation, delaying the cochlear operation.
“With so many worries, we just take things one step at a time. It is difficult,” said Leong.
Yee said the foundation would assist in fundraising for Tze Mei’s surgery.
For details, call 03-7955 9999 or email admin@ccep.org.my
