Toddler feeding well, recovering after tumour removed

MELAKA June 7 – Ainul Mardhiah Ahmad Safiuddin, the 21-month-old toddler who was diagnosed with a rare germ cell tumour last year, continues to show positive physical and health development.

Her father, Ahmad Safiuddin Ahmad Razak, 25 said his daughter needed close supervision since she is now learning new things and is more active and playful.

“She is fed milk eight times a day through a tracheostomy tube and each feeding normally takes up to an hour. She needs close supervision as she tends to pull out the tube.

“Generally Ainul Mardhiah is getting better after the surgery to remove the tumour inside her mouth last year,” he told reporters during Chief Minister Datuk Sulaiman Md Ali’s visit to his house at Taman Desa Molek, Ayer Molek here on Saturday (June 6).

On April 23, Bernama reported on Ahmad Safiuddin’s deep gratitude on hearing his first-born’s voice for the first time, after 20-month wait.

Ahmad Safiuddin said Ainul Mardhiah would make noises and try to sing along to songs on her favourite Islamic animation series, Omar and Hana.

The grocery store owner said although his daughter is dependent on a ventilator, she would sometimes pull out the tube for about 10 minutes, especially when she wants to play.

Ahmad Safiuddin said Ainul Mardhiah still has to undergo follow-up treatment at the Melaka Hospital.

Meanwhile, Sulaiman said the state government through the Welfare Department would continue to assist Ainul Mardhiah’s family for her medical needs as well as provide them with the RM350 monthly aid for patients with chronic illness.

“The state government is aware of the predicament faced by Ainul Mardhiah and we hope that she will recover and be as healthy as other children.

“From time to time, we will look into her needs in order to ease the family’s burdens,” he said.

Ainul Mardhiah underwent a successful surgery to have a 200g tumour in her mouth removed, at a hospital in London in June last year.

The operation was conducted by a group of surgeons and specialists headed by the hospital’s craniofacial unit chief, Prof David Dunaway. Also on the team was a Malaysian doctor, Dr Juling Ong and trainee surgeon Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri.

– BERNAMA