Tzu Chi provides medical support for Rayyan condition

Journalist : Khusnul Khotimah, Photographer : Khusnul Khotimah

Jie Tju Foeng, addressed as Cucu hands over toys to Rayyan.

Meily Rahmawaty and Achmad Yusuf are really grateful to be acquainted with Tzu Chi Indonesia in the midst of their struggle for healing their youngest child, Rayyan Al Faizan. Rayyan, who is now 3 years and 2 months old. He is suffering from Rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer located near both kidneys.

For the past 10 months, Tzu Chi has been providing Rayyan with Nutrinidrink milk and settling medical expenses that are not covered by BPJS services. “It is very helpful because milk is one of the necessities that Rayyan requires as well as tools such as NGT and medicines that are not covered by BPJS. Rayyan's milk is quite expensive for me,” said Meily, Rayyan's mother.

On Sunday, 6 March 2022, Rayyan's parents took Rayyan in a motorbike to the Tzu Chi volunteer community office in Central He Qi, located at ITC Mangga Dua. Their purpose is to collect Rayyan's aid and reimburse Rayyan's medical expenses. The volunteers of Tzu Chi were excited to meet Rayyan in person.

“Rayyan, do you want toys?” asked Jie Tju Foeng, whose nickname is Cucu.

Rayyan who was being carried by his father humbly uttered softly. “Yes”

The volunteers of Tzu Chi at the He Qi Center continue to monitor Rayyan's progress. Especially during the pandemic, volunteers schedule a visit through online as well as providing assistance to ensure that all contributions to recipients continues to run well.

Cucu and other volunteers then asked Rayyan to come inside and choose the toy he liked. There was a spark in his eyes where his attention was focused on the two types of toys.

Cucu realized that even though Rayyan looked healthy, he was actually still feeling weak. Cucu and other volunteers pray that Rayyan will continue to receive the best treatment which will improvise his health condition.

“We are also very happy to see Rayyan's parents who are so considerate. Hopefully, his parents will show enthusiasm and continue the medical treatment for Rayyan until he recovers," added Cucu.

After receiving the support from Tzu Chi, Rayyan's parents excused themselves and returned to their rented house located in Utan Kayu Selatan, East Jakarta.

Rayyan's Parents demonstrates persistence during their struggle

Previously, Rayyan's family had rented a house in Cikarang, Bekasi. Rayyan's father, Achmad Yusuf, works at a private company in Cikarang.as an employee in the IT department.

“Since the beginning, we resided in Cikarang area, as it was convenient for our first and second child due to the short distance to their school. Then, it became complicated when our third child was born, where we had to travel from Cikarang to Jakarta. Due to the distance, it was a bit difficult and finally we decided to stay here temporarily,” said Achmad Yusuf.

Currently, Achmad Yusuf stays in Cikarang. However, his wife, Meily Rahmawaty, together with Rayyan and his two brothers, stays in Jakarta so that Rayyan's condition would not deteriorate due to the distance that he needed to commute from Jakarta to Cikarang for treatment. Therefore, once a week Achmad Yusuf returns to Jakarta to meet his children.

At the age of three, Rayyan can't walk yet. However, Rayyan's parents are currently focusing on Rayyan's recovery.

It was known that Rayyan had suffered from cancer since the age of nine months. Initially, Rayyan was short of breath and often had fever. He was taken to a hospital in Cikarang, and he was first diagnosed with pneumonia.

At that time Rayyan's parents realized that their child's stomach was bulging where he was asked to do an ultrasound test. As Rayyan’s medical treatment was covered by BPJS, it requires a longer time and process and his condition is declining. He vomits and urinates more frequently. Every night he is always restless and fussy. Every time he weighed himself, his weight went up because his stomach was getting bigger.

Rayyan was brought to Harapan Kita Hospital in Jakarta and went through a biopsy. It was revealed that there was a tumor in Rayyan's stomach. During the chemotherapy, there was a progress which occurred only at the beginning of chemotherapy and caused Rayyan's stomach was slightly smaller. But after undergoing chemotherapy again, there was no change. Then, a second biopsy was also conducted where Rayyan was diagnosed with Rbdobiosarcoma cancer.

There has been a multiple number of times that Rayyan went through chemotherapy in the last two years, from normal to the high-risk. However, there has been no change where Rayyan's health condition is declining and now he has to use an NG tube for his nutritional intake. Although there has been no positive change in Rayyan, his parents continue to cultivate optimism and try their best.

"I am optimistic. Yes, it has been three years since the treatment, even though the results are not there, that is something that needs to be overcome. One day there may be positive results to recover,” said Yusuf.

"Yes, this is something tiring. However, it is our wish to do our best for the health of the child so that we don't regret it later. With god’s grace, the family especially his father always supports us, together with other friends. However, his mother is not that strong," added Meily.

Currently, Rayyan is being referred to Dharmais Cancer Hospital to undergo chemotherapy by direct injection at the point of his cancer.

Support from Tzu Chi

Rayyan seems inseparable from his father, who meets him once a week.

One of the things that warmed the hearts of Rayyan's parents was the support from Tzu Chi. At that time, Rayyan's parents knew Tzu Chi from several parents who took their children for treatment at Harapan Kita Hospital.

Finally, I tried asking for help and then there was a good response. The process takes lesser than a month," said Meily.

In May 2021, a team of volunteers from He Qi Center conducted an online survey. Rayyan's request for assistance was also approved.

I am Rayyan's mother who expresses my sincere gratitude. Tzu Chi and the volunteers are very helpful in treating Rayyan," said Meily. Meily was also touched by the volunteers' attention to her baby.

"We appreciate the assistance from the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, who has gone beyond for Rayyan and to other children or others who have been supported. That is very extraordinary. I am very grateful for this kind of assistance,” concluded Yusuf, Rayyan's father.

Translator: Mely Kartono (Tzu Chi School)