Malaysians come together to help a child breathe

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]A mother's plea for help has turned into a powerful story of hope and unity.

[00:00:05][music] Single mother S. Kogilavani had been desperately trying to [music] raise 78,000 ringgit for a specialized implant to help her 9-year-old daughter, Yashika Steven Doss, breathe normally through her nose.

[00:00:19]Yashika was born with several rare congenital conditions, including Townes-Brocks syndrome, Goldenhar syndrome, and Pierre Robin sequence.

[00:00:28]>> [music] >> These conditions have affected her facial development, hearing, breathing, and feeding. [music] She currently breathes through a tracheostomy tube, relies on a feeding tube for nourishment, and uses a hearing aid. But after Kogila's story was published by FMT on Monday, Malaysians responded with overwhelming kindness.

[00:00:49]Within just 72 hours, the fundraising target was reached.

[00:00:54]Kogila said Malaysians from all backgrounds, Malay, Chinese, and Indian, came together not as separate communities, but as one nation.

[00:01:04]She said the donations had restored her faith and hope, proving that compassion knows no ethnicity.

[00:01:11]There was more good news. The oral and maxillofacial clinic at University Malaya Medical Center [music] has agreed to carry out Yashika's surgery for free.

[00:01:21]For Kogila, the support has turned headlines into hope and strangers into family.

[00:01:28]In her words, "Because you cared, my daughter now has a tomorrow."

[00:01:34]Natasha Beast, FMT.