Save a life today, help Grace
This is the heart-wrenching story of a little girl named Grace, the elder of two children of Jason Lim and his wife, Pei Chyn. When Grace was merely five years old, her parents started noticing troubling signs; she looked pale, was constantly falling sick with fever and was losing weight. The day doctors diagnosed Grace with leukaemia, her parents were devastated. Yet, they mustered their superhuman strengths and battled on together, focused on one mission: to save Grace’s life.
Today, at nine years old, brave little Grace has faced leukaemia for the third time. It is hard to fully grasp the intensity of the difficult times that she and her family have endured without going through such experiences ourselves. One thing we do know, however, is that nine-year-old girls are supposed to be in school, learning and discovering the wonders of life. Instead, Grace has spent much of her young life in hospitals, facing painful treatments and procedures.
Grace was first diagnosed with B-cell leukaemia in 2020. “She went through a year and a half of treatments like chemotherapy and finally went into remission,” recalled her mother, Pei Chyn. Sadly, just one week before Chinese New Year in January 2023, the cancer returned, and Grace underwent another round of chemotherapy. This time, her family opted for a bone marrow transplant (BMT). Unfortunately, just 100 days after BMT, Grace tested positive for blasts in her bone marrow. Even worse, the doctor confirmed the cancer had spread to her brain. It was a condition known as CNS relapse (Central Nervous System relapse), according to the doctor.
“This makes it much harder to treat,” explained her father, Jason. “The doctors said she might need total body radiation, which could cause severe side effects, including the inability to conceive in the future.”
The challenges keep mounting. Just recently Grace was admitted to the hospital for bacteria in her blood that causes sepsis and tested positive for RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), which causes breathing problems. Her infection, which her parents described as an “unexpected setback” has also delayed her planned treatment. “While on her way to see the oncologist last Friday, she fainted due to her fragile condition. Her white blood cell count is now zero and she does not have any immunity,” added her worried parents. Grace is currently undergoing treatment for the infection in a hospital.
In an emotional tone, Pei Chyn recounted how brave Grace was when undergoing chemotherapy. “Even though she knows how much she will suffer, she allowed us to shave her hair for the third time,” she said.
Grace loves going to school and drawing during her free time. She even planned which subjects to take for tuition after her treatments. Although she skipped school a lot, she tries her best to catch up with her schoolwork whenever she can, according to her mother.
Now, her doctors have recommended CAR-T Cell Therapy, a treatment that reprogrammes a patient’s immune cells (T cells) to recognise, target and destroy cancer cells. This therapy offers hope for patients like Grace who have relapsed after a bone marrow transplant. Studies show that CAR-T therapy has remission rates of up to 85% in cases of relapsed or refractory leukaemia.
Currently available only in Singapore in this region for paediatric Car-T, it comes with a steep price tag of RM825,000. “We've spent approximately RM800,000 on treatments over the past few years. Our savings are depleted, and our insurance policy doesn't cover specialised treatments like CAR-T,” explained Jason.
“Usually, if a patient relapses after receiving BMT in Malaysia, the next step is palliative care. But thank God, there’s CAR-T. However, Grace might need another BMT again to put the disease in remission.”
Grace’s family has launched fundraising campaigns through multiple platforms such as on CCAM and Sokong.org, seeking support from local organisations and charitable foundations. “We are grateful for everyone who has helped us so far,” said Jason. “But at the moment, we’ve only managed to raise RM9,200. We are still very far away from the amount needed to undergo the treatment in Singapore. CAR-T therapy offers Grace the best chance at survival. If we can raise the funds, it will give her the opportunity to fight this disease and have a future.”
While Grace recovers from the threat of her infection, her parents are soldiering forward one day at a time. They hope to see Grace grow up healthy and happy, with the opportunity to live her life to the fullest, like other children.
Grace is just a young girl; she deserves a chance at life. Having leukaemia at the tender age of nine is confusing to her—she does not fully understand what is happening. But she often feels sad, with tears silently rolling down her cheeks.
Grace’s family is in urgent need of support to raise the RM825,000 required for her life-saving CAR-T Cell Therapy. Every contribution, big or small, will bring Grace one step closer to the life-saving treatment she urgently needs. No child should have to face the devastating consequences of financial constraints in their battle for life.
You can make a difference by donating through the following link: https://sokong.org/donate/campaign/LVoXrm1iTxQyU1ZYmsJC.
Together, we can help Grace have a fighting chance for a brighter future. Please consider supporting her journey and sharing her story with others. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
