Shiezell (seated centre on sofa) and his family, with PETRONAS representatives at their newly-refurbished home.
ISKANDAR PUTERI: It was a Christmas to remember for 12-year-old Shiezell Samsen, a brave Thalassemia patient whose long-held dream of visiting Legoland Malaysia finally came true, thanks to the PETRONAS 50 Dreams campaign.
For Shiezell, the eldest of three siblings, the trip was nothing short of magical.
His eyes lit up as he recounted the day he spent exploring the world of Lego bricks and enjoying thrilling rides alongside his younger brother, a dream he never thought would ever be fulfilled.
“I am very happy. I got to go on a lot of fun rides with my brother for the first time in my life.
“It was truly a special day for me and my family, as we have never had the opportunity to go on any kind of vacation before,” said Shiezell, smiling from ear to ear.
Strong determination
Despite a life marked by frequent hospital visits and the loss of many childhood joys, Shiezell’s spirit remains unbroken.
As a student at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Pu Sze, he aspires to become a policeman, a dream he is determined to pursue, no matter the challenges he faces.
“I stay away from taking part in sports and vigorous outdoor activities as I do not want my parents to worry about my health.
“Although I have to spend a lot of time in the hospital, I believe that it will not deter me from achieving my dream of one day becoming a policeman,” he said, adding that he hopes to have a normal life someday.
Shiezell’s resilience is even more remarkable given the circumstances his family endures.
He and his ten-year-old sister Jolie Avril Samsen, both suffer from Thalassemia major, a severe blood disorder that requires regular blood transfusions.
Their youngest sibling, eight-year-old brother, Seanbester Samsen, has Thalassemia minor.
Shiezell (right) and Seanbester (left), accompanied by their father, enjoy a leisurely stroll through Legoland.
His father, Samsen Thomas, 37, a lorry driver of a private company in Johor said he was glad to see his children enjoy themselves during the visit to Legoland, especially as they have been spending most of their time in the hospital.
“Since Shiezell and his sister have Thalassemia major, they have to go for regular blood transfusions to maintain a normal haemoglobin level.
“Recently, his sister underwent a bone marrow transplant with my youngest son as the donor.
“If all goes well, she no longer has to go for regular blood transfusions.
“Unfortunately, that is not the case for Shiezell, who has no matching stem cell donors from our family.
“He will continue to have the regular blood transfusion until we can find a compatible donor,” he said.
Samsen, who has cherished a close bond with his children since their birth, said he is inspired by their strength and hope that they will all be able to have a normal childhood.
“They have never complained about anything, no matter how hard things get.
“In fact, Shiezell and his brother also gave up his bedroom so that their sister could have a comfortable place to recover from the bone marrow transplant.
“They are now sharing the same room as us. We are grateful to have such strong and loving children, and there is nothing we wish more than for them to be healthy,” he said.
(Seated, clockwise from lower right corner) Shiezell, with his mother Julitah Karom, Jolie Avril, Seanbester and Samsen in all smiles for their special Christmas dinner. At the back (from left) Legoland Malaysia sales and marketing director M. Thila, divisional director CS Lim, Mohd Zaki, Hospital Sultanah Aminah Full Paying Patient Services unit head Dr Nur Muhammad Kamil Abdullah and pediatric head Dr Nisah Abdullah, with a Santa Claus impersonator.
Unforgettable experience
Shiezell’s unforgettable Legoland adventure included an exciting tour of its Sea Life, thrilling moments at the theme parks, a heartwarming Christmas family dinner, and a two-day stay at the iconic Legoland Hotel.
This memorable journey was made possible through the collaboration between PETRONAS, Legoland Malaysia, and Merlin Magic Making.
Apart from fulfilling his dream of visiting Legoland, PETRONAS went above and beyond by refurbishing Shiezell’s house, bringing comfort to him and his family with new furniture and decorations.
Recognising the importance of education, PETRONAS also provided a laptop for Shiezell and his sibling to use for their studies, especially benefiting Jolie who studies from home due to her condition.
PETRONAS Southern General Manager, Mohd Zaki Hj Mahat said the company was glad to be able to fulfil Shiezell’s dream through its PETRONAS 50 Dreams campaign.
“The campaign aims to uplift lives and fulfil the dreams of selected individuals from the B40 category who are overcoming significant challenges.
“Apart from Shiezell, we have fulfilled several other wishes throughout this year, including seven from the Southern region, to commemorate our 50th anniversary,” he said.
With the theme of ‘Continuing a Legacy Together for Our Future’, the PETRONAS 50 Dreams fulfils dreams of people from diverse backgrounds in Malaysia and international areas of PETRONAS’ operations.
These dreams will be realised during the year’s major festivities, bringing hope and joy to those in need.
Each identified dream will be carefully screened to ensure that the chosen individuals are deserving and that their dreams will have a significant impact on their lives and even their communities.
In line with the government’s aspirations, PETRONAS, through strong partnership and support from the state government, is committed to its social responsibilities with a focus on making a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need.
