Princess Hepshibah for One Day

Hepshibah Jayabalan, our Gift of Life beneficiary was treated like a princess for one day as she celebrated her birthday with MASkargo staff at Hotel Equatorial on December 15th, 2006. Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo), which sponsored the air transportation of a homograph transplant for Hepshibah, threw her a birthday party during an appreciation dinner with members of the media in Penang.

Hepshibah, dressed in a lovely white frock, was seated at the VIP table alongside Senior General Manager Cargo, Dato’ J.J. Ong, her grandaunt Esther Mark, the Marketing Director of Penang Adventist Hospital, Mr Khor Thean Heng and MASkargo Penang personnel. Her family and some other hospital beneficiaries were also present to celebrate the special occasion.

Hepshibah underwent corrective heart surgery at Penang Adventist Hospital on 24 April 2003. She was a recipient of a homograft valve conduit (human tissue), donated in full by the Alabama Tissue Centre Inc (in the United States), under the Gift of Life Programme.

Upon hearing of Hepshibah’s plight, MASkargo sponsored the transportation of the human tissue from Los Angeles to Penang, ensuring the special cargo was given special care throughout the flight.

"Looking at Hepshibah reminds me of how fragile life is. We sometimes take life for granted. We hardly stop to appreciate what we have and want more. Maybe we should stop once in a while and look around to see what we already have and count our blessings."

"We (MASkargo) take it in our stride to help heart patients like Hepshibah and Wan Aizat Mohamad Wan Anis a few years ago because we are an organization who is socially responsible and cares about the community," said Dato’ J.J. Ong.

Later in the evening, Hepshibah invited Dato’ J.J. Ong on stage to cut the birthday cake with her. With fun games and presents, Hepshibah was the happiest girl in the room that day.

For further enquiries on the event, please contact the Development Department at Tel: (604) 2227603 / 2227606. Email: foundation@pah.com.my