Kuala lumpur: The father of a teenage scoliosis patient, Arissa El Zahra, 13, has expressed his gratitude after receiving a RM10,000 contribution to help cover the cost of his daughter's surgery, which is scheduled to take place at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) on Sept 8.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Reduan Saad, 41, shared that the contribution from Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the Tun Hussein Onn Teachers Foundation (YGTHO) significantly alleviated the family's financial burden associated with the surgery costs. Reduan received a call from the Education Minister's private secretary informing him of the ministry's intention to assist with the surgical expenses.

He expressed surprise at the speed of the assistance, attributing it to a blessing for his daughter, Arissa. He extended his heartfelt thanks to the Education Minister and all contributors, hoping that a higher power would reward them for their generosity.

Arissa, a student at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bandar Baru Putra in Ipoh, was diagnosed with scoliosis by an orthopaedic specialist at HRPB at the age of 10, following an assessment on June 5, 2024. Her father mentioned that the surgery is expected to last approximately six hours, based on the orthopaedic specialist's explanation.

Reduan expressed hope for a successful surgery and a swift recovery for Arissa, wishing for her to lead a life similar to other children her age. He also noted that the necessary funds for the surgery had been fully raised and encouraged potential donors to redirect their contributions to other children facing similar health challenges.

He emphasized his gratitude towards everyone who supported their family, acknowledging that Arissa's surgery costs have been fully covered. He encouraged those still wishing to contribute to consider aiding other children in need of urgent assistance.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek stated in a Facebook post that she and YGTHO had successfully covered the entire cost of Arissa El Zahra's surgery.