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Sunday October 7, 2007

Organ transplants give many

a second lease of life

KUALA LUMPUR: Television celebrity Andrea De Cruz, former minister

Tan Sri Sabaruddin Chik, student Muhd Fikri Norazmi and management

consultant Lee Chen Hoe are people with different ages, interests and

standing in life. But they all have one thing in common.

They have all been given a second lease on life through organ

transplant operations. Now each one is able to lead normal lives, with

some even getting the opportunity to start over in an exciting manner.

De Cruz’ story inspired lovers all around the region five years ago when

her then fiancé actor Pierre Png donated part of his liver to save her life

when she suffered liver failure as a result of taking slimming pills.

Now married to Png, De Cruz also has another chance in her TV

career.

“After the fifth year, you have this new-found inspiration, new-found

drive,” said the radiant 32-year-old actress who is eager to start a family

soon through adoption.

Sabaruddin, the 65-year-old former Umno secretary-general, who

suffered kidney failure in December 1998 and underwent a transplant in

China a year later, brought Malaysia the first medal in golf at the World

Transplant Games held in Bangkok recently.

An avid golfer, he still drives himself to play golf with “normal people.”

“I lead a normal, healthy retirement life,” he said.

Most Fifth Formers might dread the coming SPM examination but for

17-year-old Muhd Fikri Norazmi, it is a gift of life that has enabled him to

sit for the public examination.

The first mechanical heart boy was once like Tee Hui Yi, buying time

with the device.

He spent a few months at the National Heart Institute and was fortunate

enough to find a heart donor in December 2005.

Today, he is not only healthy but is also able to participate in sports and

games like other active teens.

Retiree Albert Gunaratnam, the longest living heart transplant patient in

Malaysia, now tries to make the most of each day and live life to the

fullest.

Gunaratnam is especially grateful for the ability to lead a normal life

because nine years ago, he could not even manage simple things like

lifting a toothbrush.

Management consultant Lee Chen Hoe is forever grateful for the kidney

he got almost 11 years ago from an American engineer, C.H. Bender,

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Page 1 of 3Organ transplants give many a second lease of life

5/25/2008http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/7/nation/19106495&sec=nation

who was declared brain dead after suffering a stroke in 1996.

His kidneys failed when his twin daughters were just two and a half

years old in 1991.

He has now stopped celebrating his birthday but commemorates the

transplant date instead.

Appreciating life more, he looks forward to each day, especially to be

with his daughters, and is also active in charity work.

For 21-year-old A. Revathi, her world literally became brighter when she

received corneas from donors in Canada and Malaysia.

Her vision had been deteriorating from birth and became so bad that

she dropped out of school by 16.

She was diagnosed with keratoconus, a condition in which the cornea

changes to a more conical shape compared to its usual gradual curve.

She went through a dark period when she felt helpless and depressed.

Since the operation, she can see clearly without any visual aid in her left

eye.

Now she has taken control of her life and works as a clerk in her

family’s scrap metal business.

ORGAN DONATION INFO

For more information on organ donations, contact the National

Transplant Resource Centre at 03-2694-2704/2705, or the individual

Page 2 of 3Organ transplants give many a second lease of life

5/25/2008http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/7/nation/19106495&sec=nation

centres:

> Ipoh Hospital (05-5222324/2533333 at ext 2324),

> Penang Hospital at (04-2002436/2293333 at ext 435)

> Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Batu (07-2231666 at ext 2751).

The national toll-free number is 1-800-88-9080.

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Page 3 of 3Organ transplants give many a second lease of life

5/25/2008http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/7/nation/19106495&sec=nation