Nur Syafenna Abdullah may only be 10, but the bright-eyed girl from Labuan has already endured more pain than most do in a lifetime. Diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, she has relapsed twice despite completing rounds of chemotherapy. Now in the terminal stage of her illness, doctors have confirmed there are no further curative treatments available.
But even in the face of such heartbreaking reality, Syafenna the eldest of three siblings has kept her dreams alive. She turns 11 this September 25 and has often spoken about her wish for a birthday party, complete with junk food, fried chicken, pizza and a two-tier cake; one layer adorned with SpongeBob and the other with her favourite Larva anime characters. She also wished for just two presents: a remote-controlled robot and a camping tent to share with her younger siblings.
Her story moved the Children’s Wish Society of Malaysia (CWS Malaysia), who immediately stepped in to fulfil her final wish.
Working alongside Dorsett Grand Labuan, plans were quickly drawn up to throw Syafenna a party she would never forget. The hotel booked the KFC venue and sponsored all the food for the day, while their team led by Assistant Financial Controller Koh Yin Ling arrived with three specially made cakes, a battery-operated robot toy and birthday “ang-pow” just for her.
Doctors from Hospital Labuan, who have been caring for Syafenna, also joined in the celebration. They brought along a SpongeBob cake and birthday presents, catching the birthday girl completely by surprise. Her eyes stayed fixed on the cake throughout the celebration; a moment that captured the pure, simple joy of a child who’s been through too much.
CWS Malaysia vice president Kelvin Chew also presented Syafenna with a two-man camping tent, checking off the final item on her wish list.
“This is the first time we’ve fulfilled a wish in Labuan,” said CWS Malaysia president TH Teoh, who was also present. “We’re truly grateful to be part of this unforgettable celebration and extend our heartfelt thanks to Dorsett Grand Labuan for partnering with us to make this possible.”
For a few precious hours, Syafenna was just a child again, surrounded by family, friends and the warmth of a community that came together to make her birthday dream come true.
CWS Malaysia is a Subang Jaya based national charity dedicated to fulfilling wishes of children who are stricken with life-limiting ailments across the country.
