mjsultanmuslims

Liver boy gets added helping hand

JOSE MARCELO HONG KONG

Kong has thrown its full support behind
Muhammad Jamail Sultan (right), drawing the three-
year-old kid closer to getting the liver transplant
needed to save his life.

The Sultans planed in on April 16 still short of the
HK$1 million required for the surgery but have been
heartened by the support and generosity of people
from all walks of life in the territory.

Among those who have responded in a big way to
the Sultans’ plea for help were Muslims of all races
who at press time have raised over HK$100,000 to
help defray the expenses of MJ’s operation.

“Hindi lang po mga Pilipino ang mga tumutulong
sa amin,” said Sally Sultan, whose husband,
Jamail, is a Muslim from Lanao del Sur. “Pati rin po
mga Chinese Muslims at mga ibang nationalities.”
A Pakistani Muslim has provided the Sultans living
quarters in Wanchai while MJ awaits surgery.

The Islamic Union of Hong Kong has also started a
fundraising campaign for MJ, Sally Sultan said. A
donation box for MJ has been set up at a mosque
in Wanchai.

Daphne Ceniza-Kuok and other migrant advocates
who have also come to the aid of the Sultans have
set up an HSBC account (593 540 016 001) where
donations for MJ’s liver transplant can be coursed.

Once the required sum is completed, MJ, who is
suffering from end-stage biliary atresia, can have
his liver surgery with his aunt, Rowena Barcelo,
serving as the donor.

Doctors at the Queen Mary Hospital have
performed workups on MJ and Barcelo through the
help of Dr Vanessa de Villa. A lump found in MJ’s
liver was excised for biopsy on May 10.

Surgery had been scheduled for mid-May.

De Villa, an assistant professor and surgeon at the
Queen Mary Hospital, has previously helped two
other kids from indigent Filipino families get their
liver transplants in Hong Kong.

Liver transplants have yet to be performed in
Philippine hospitals.

The Filipino community in Hong Kong has come to
the aid of two kids who got life-saving liver
transplants – Mark Mendoza in March 2006 and
Louie Perez in August. Both are now recovering
well back home.