KUALA LUMPUR — Last week, primary school student Muhammad Aqil Naufal Zahiran tugged at the heartstrings of Malaysians for his determined efforts to cross the finish line in a 100m race on crutches.
During the Special Education Athletics Championship at the Jerantut District School Sports Council (MSSD) in 2023, 11-year-old Aqil’s teacher, Intan Zulailkha Jusoh, was also seen in the video running alongside him until the finish line.
Speaking to Scoop, mother Noor Hafizah Mat Desa said the event took place unexpectedly.
What she thought would be like any other normal school sports day turned out to be a life-changing experience.
“Initially, I was told that he would be competing on August 24, so I cleared my day to watch him race.
“But at the last minute, I was informed that it was actually a day earlier. So I tried to rush my errands, but I could not make it in time. As I was driving, notifications on my phone blew up nonstop. I thought there was something wrong,” she said.
They were, in fact, notifications from her social media and texts from friends and family asking her about Aqil’s viral video.
Hafizah said her son was born without defects.
Aqil faced a life-altering challenge when he lost his left leg due to a severe bacterial infection, necrotising fasciitis, in 2015 when he was three years old.
He developed a tiny lump between his thigh and stomach that rapidly grew and needed surgery.
The procedure took an unexpected turn when, upon removing the bandages, the wound appeared black. Subsequent surgeries followed, exceeding 20 between September and November, culminating in the difficult decision to amputate his left leg.
“The doctor said Aqil’s chances for survival were slim.
“Then, by the blessings of our prayer, Allah gave him the chance to survive, which I vow not to take for granted. I promised to do right by him, and I do not want him to feel any less of a person because of his physical condition,” Hafizah added.
The 36-year-old single mother, whose husband passed away in 2021, said Aqil’s journey of recovery involved medical appointments every three weeks to receive intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatments at Temerloh Hospital to boost his immune system to this day.
Despite the challenges, Aqil emerged stronger and learned to walk again.
Hafizah also said she provided Aqil with crutches, which her brother helped modify for his height, allowing him to actively participate in sports, particularly football.
“Aqil’s affinity for the sport grew, and he transformed his crutch-assisted movements into strengths.”
Aqil’s inspiring story received the attention of the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS), which extended its support by arranging a meeting between Aqil, his family, and Artalive Sdn Bhd’s prosthetist yesterday for an assessment to determine the type of prosthetic needed to enable him to participate in sports activities.
Through the National Sports Institute (ISN), sports medicine specialist Dr Ahmad Munawwar Helmi said they will oversee the installation of Aqil’s prosthetics that require a hip disarticulation prosthesis.
Following that, Hafizah expressed gratitude towards KBS, ISN, as well as the Malaysia Amputee Football Association, for their support in Aqil’s journey. — September 2, 2023