Name : Zahirah
Age : 13 years old (2022)
Illness : Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Wish : To have a wardrobe makeover
For 13-year- old Zahirah, teenage years should have been filled with new discoveries, friendship and fun at school. Instead, Zahirah, youngest of four siblings, spent most of her days at the hospital battling acute myeloid leukemia.
When Zahirah and family met Make-A-Wish Malaysia, it felt like they found a new friend – someone they can share their difficulties and heartaches with. Since young, Zahirah’s clothes were all used clothes which she inherited from her older siblings. With the escalating cost of her medical treatment, the thought of providing Zahirah with new clothes was furthest from her parents’ minds. What seemed like an easy wish to grant became one that required patience and out-of-the-box thinking by volunteers.
Distance and Zahirah’s health hampered the possibility of taking her to shop for her own clothes. As such, an e-catalog was created with the help of a wonderful staff at Parkson Kota Kinabalu who very kindly photographed all the suitable items based on Zahirah’s likes. This e-catalogue was then shared with Zahirah who went shopping on the hospital bed. This little shopper scrolled through pictures of clothes, accessories and shoes. What a wonderful collection she chose!
Once everything was ready and Zahirah was ‘out of the woods’ (medically speaking), the items she selected were beautifully packed and delivered to her at the hospital. With the help of parents of other children in the ward, Zahirah was transformed into a beauty – even unrecognisable by her doctors! The various outfits gave Zahirah the opportunity to pose for endless selfies, with each click of the phone, Zahirah’s face gleamed with joy as she posed in the many different attire with matching accessories and even make-up kit. There was a buzz in the hospital unlike before – Zahirah and everyone were most excited to be part of her mini fashion show!
“Even the doctor was surprised that Zahirah was so bubbly and looked much better when her wish was granted” said Zahirah’s mother. Zahirah’s confidence flourished along with a huge smile on her face in modelling her sparkly clothes.
