Jaydan Ong, 9, was born 2 months premature. Due to birth complications, he had brain injury which caused him to develop Spastic Cerebral Palsy, a disability that affects the movement of his lower body. He must wear leg braces in order to be able to walk on his own. However, his gait is still unsteady, and he is prone to falls.
Because of his disability, Jaydan has been in and out of hospitals frequently ever since he was an infant. He currently attends numerous therapy sessions at KKH: weekly exercise sessions, monthly Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy sessions and yearly Neonatology and Paediatrician check-up. The Paediatrician also recommended that Jaydan take PediaSure TripleSure milk powder daily- a tin cost about $80 and can only last him for a month.
These has racked up high expenses, which the family could barely afford on the father’s meagre salary as a taxi driver. Mr Ong’s monthly income is unstable; it could go as low as $1000 on certain months due to the strong competition from ride-sharing companies. However, Mr Ong is unable to risk changing company as the family’s financial burden lies on the shoulders of the father alone. Jaydan’s mother, Mrs Ong, is also unable to work part-time as Jaydan’s condition requires her to become a full-time caregiver. His brother, Jerald, who is 2 years older, had no choice but to learn to grow up fast. He understands the struggles of his parents and younger brother and helps to take care and look out for Jaydan.
Daily household expenses, utility bills, monthly travel concession passes are the concern of the family as well. The tight budget meant that the family relies on kind souls for second-hand donations and are unable to afford additional expenses, such as purchasing of goodies during Chinese New Year. They are also unable to afford private tuition for Jaydan and Jerald, which worries Mrs Ong as Jerald will be taking his PSLE in one year’s time.
Xin Yuan has helped this family through monthly groceries provision to help offset their daily expenses. We also provide free physiotherapy sessions weekly to Jaydan, as well as free tuition twice weekly and free IT enrichment programmes for both children. We also hope to give monthly financial assistance to the Ong family to help lessen the family’s burden.
