A life on hold

In November 2021, Nurhakim was diagnosed with a rare tumor in his lower jaw (ameloblastoma). While benign, treatment required the removal of a large part of his lower jaw. This started a harrowing, 2-year journey comprising multiple surgeries that depleted his life savings and put his life on hold. Still struggling to get back on his feet, Nurhakim needs your help to cover outstanding dental implant fees of $25,920*.

After graduating, Nurhakim built a successful career civil engineering career. 6 years in, he chose to embark on a path that would allow him to make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. He quit his job, taking care to ensure his savings would be sufficient to tide him through his basic living expenses and studies in Social Work. Ironically, as he took the plunge to begin his helping journey, tragedy hit. 

Nurhakim’s story and personal appeal:

Hi, I am Nurhakim Ali Amdan. I am 33 years old and am studying Social Work part-time at NUS Arts and Social Science. I am about to graduate and truly look forward to being fully equipped to help the marginalized and underprivileged. However, over the last 2 years, I feel like I have fallen through the cracks of structural safety nets myself. While this has dampened my spirits, I am still hopeful about the years ahead. 

I first noticed something was wrong when my teeth started to shift and I discovered a lump underneath them. Seeking medical advice, I was diagnosed with ameloblastoma in November 2021, a rare tumor in my jaw bone. While it was benign, surgery was still necessary because, without removal, the tumor would continue to grow and impact the surrounding bone tissue. A month later, doctors removed a large portion of my lower jaw, inclusive of 11 teeth. Doctors then attempted to reconstruct the jaw by using a portion of my hip bone as a bone graft.

The surgery failed. The wound kept re-opening, resulting in an eroded bone graft. All through 2022, while waiting for my body to recuperate sufficiently for another procedure, I could not close my mouth. During this period, I was only able to eat liquid food and for nutritional reasons,  put on a diet of Ensure milk. Once, my family bought me satay to cheer me up as my spirits flagged. That was the first time I had satay blended into a paste, just so that I could taste it! 

While I adapted with time and my ability to swallow food got better, I am still restricted to soft foods that do not require chewing. I miss comfort foods like a McSpicy burger, or even dried cuttlefish dearly. However, the hardest thing to come to terms with was the loss of my ability to communicate verbally. I could not pronounce “s”, “t”, “f” and “p” sounding words. It was distressing for me as I struggled to repeat my words multiple times for someone else to understand what I was saying.  For the most part, I resorted to communicating mainly through signing or writing.  

In September 2022, doctors used my right fibula bone (lower leg bone) to re-attempt lower jaw reconstruction. This was a grueling ordeal as I had a tracheostomy tube and nasogastric tube in place, while concurrently dealing with lower body mobility issues. With the previous surgery affecting one hip and the second surgery affecting the other leg, I also had to relearn how to walk and physiotherapy became commonplace. 

While doctors estimated a recovery period of 1 year when we first started the process in 2021, In March 2023, National Dental Centre Singapore (NDCS) informed me that it would take another 2-3 years for me to get my dental implants. This was devastating news and it was hard to manage the negative thoughts swirling in my mind: How was I going to cope with my living expenses, and educational costs, and when can I get some semblance of normalcy back? Can I trust the timeline given by the NDCS doctors? When will this end?  

New Hope

In my search for a second opinion, I found the Implant and Oral Surgery Centre (IOSC) which assured me of expedited treatment. I am now at the last leg of this journey. While I am slowly recuperating and have been off both tubes since December 2022, I am still not able to chew food. While I have gotten my speech back to some degree, it is still affected. There are still some procedures ahead of me. Other than dental implants, surgery is also needed to ensure there is sufficient distance between the newly implanted teeth and lips. 

I have been fortunate to be able to cover most surgical costs with my insurance. However, even though the loss of 11 bottom-row teeth and lower jawbone has affected both my ability to eat and speak, the insurance company considers dental implants as cosmetic procedures and is unable to cover the remaining costs of $25,920.

My numerous appeals for assistance at health agencies, insurance agencies, and social organizations have been unsuccessful, and options are running out for me. With my savings running low, I sincerely ask for help to support me in getting my life back.

Thank you for your attention and reading through.

My deepest gratitude,

Nurhakim Ali Amdan 

* Funds raised will be paid directly to the medical institution.