25YO M’sian Working in S’pore Now in ICU Due to a Bacterial Infection

What was meant to be an inspiring story of a young 25-year-old Malaysian man leaving his home country to make a living in Singapore took a sad turn.

The man contracted a bacterial infection which put him out of action and into the intensive care unit (ICU) for an extended period of time.

Unsurprisingly, staying in the hospital’s ICU ward comes with a hefty price tag. Though, many good Samaritans have opened their wallets to crowdfund the young man’s medical expenses.

This is his story.

Malaysian Man Works in Singapore to Make a Living

The young man hails from Perak, Malaysia, and has been working in Singapore for over a year. Known to be a healthy man in his mid-20s, he unexpectedly felt unwell last month and was sent to the ICU.

While his condition improved for a period of time, there was a sudden deterioration in his health, and the man is now battling for his life in critical condition.

The man’s family in Ipoh has since shifted him to a hospital in Johor Bahru to receive treatment and crowdsourced funds to pay the hefty medical bills.

According to the interview the man’s sister did with 8world, the man was part of a family with five children, and he was the youngest child. The man was known to be obedient and mature.

As he wanted to help out with the family expenses, he moved to Singapore alone to work as a chef’s assistant.

He underwent some medical examinations before starting his job in Singapore, and apart from high blood pressure, he appeared to be in the pink of health.

But tragedy struck mid-March when he felt ill and suffered from fever as well as back pain.

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Man Suffered From a Bacterial Infection

It is said that the man was already in a delirious state when he was sent to the hospital by his relatives and could no longer speak. The doctors then injected him with medicine to induce sleep and reduce his pain.

Based on the doctor’s diagnosis, the man was suffering from a serious infection of melioidosis and bacteremia. The former disease is caused by bacteria commonly found in soil and muddy water.

Furthermore, as the man’s family had a history of diabetes, the bacterial infection also caused the young man to suffer from diabetic ketoacidosis.

Due to the various infections, the young man’s internal organs were damaged, and he had to undergo kidney dialysis every two days. His lung function has also been negatively impacted by the illnesses.

Man’s Condition Fluctuated While He Was Recovering in the Hospital

According to the man’s sister, the man’s condition improved after several days in the hospital, and he was able to eat, get up and talk to others.

Just as the doctors were discussing with the family members about transferring the man to a different hospital, his condition nosedived, and he was once again put under intensive care.

There was even a period of time when the young man’s heart stopped beating, and the doctors had to perform an emergency rescue to revive the young man. He was reportedly unable to breathe before his heart stopped for two minutes.

Understandably, the young man’s family was thrown into turmoil upon seeing their son and brother suffering in such a state.

The family expressed their wish for the young man to recover speedily.

Hefty Medical Fees for the Young Man’s Treatment

Apart from struggling to come to terms with the young man’s condition, the family members are also struggling with the man’s medical bills.

His medical insurance limit covered up to $15,000, but as of 13 April 2023, the man has racked up more than $40,000 in medical bills. As this is not a workplace-related injury and the man is a work permit holder, the insurance limit is lower than usual.

To pay the medical bills, a Give.Asia campaign has been set up to raise funds for the treatment. In a short four days, over 180 kind people donated generously, and the family managed to raise almost $13,000.

The campaign page narrates the young man’s story in English, starting from his beginnings in finding a job in Singapore up until his current condition in the hospital.

The family expresses their sincere gratitude to those who chipped in to help and have promised to donate any excess funds to others in need. As of the time this article is written, the fundraising page has stopped accepting donations with a note that the family has “successfully raised enough funds”.