Help Baby Matthias Receive Urgent Gene Therapy for SMA
S$181,446 /
S$2,440,451.40
Verified by Ray of Hope
Donation Back Guarantee
STARTED ON
24/07/2026
CAMPAIGN ENDS IN
61 DAYS
DONORS
1355
Nuo Nuo donated
S$50
12 seconds ago
Jing ke Koh donated
S$50
27 seconds ago
Anonymous donated
S$100
40 seconds ago
See All
S$181,446 /
S$2,440,451.40
Verified by Ray of Hope
Donation Back Guarantee
STARTED ON
24/07/2026
CAMPAIGN ENDS IN
61 DAYS
DONORS
1355
Nuo Nuo donated
S$50
12 seconds ago
Jing ke Koh donated
S$50
27 seconds ago
Anonymous donated
S$100
40 seconds ago
See All
When we realised something was wrong
Our son, Matthias, is nine months old. A few months ago, Matthias could lift his head during tummy time. Then, slowly, he began losing the strength he already had.
Like every parent, we celebrated each little milestone and looked forward to the many more to come. In his early months, we noticed that he seemed slower to reach certain developmental milestones than other babies his age. We reassured ourselves that every child develops at their own pace and wondered if perhaps his chubbier build simply made movement a little more difficult.
But as the months passed, Matthias started losing abilities he had already achieved. Watching him lose the strength he once had was heartbreaking, and our hearts told us that something was wrong.
We quickly arranged an appointment at the hospital. After assessing Matthias, the doctors admitted him for further investigations. As we waited for the results, we held on to hope that there would be an explanation and a way forward.
Learning what our son was facing
The tests confirmed our greatest fear. Matthias has Type 2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness.
We had heard of SMA before, but nothing could have prepared us for hearing that our own son had been diagnosed with it.
In just 2 months, SMA has reduced Matthias ability to hold his head up during tummy time, struggles to sit upright, and now relies on support for movements that once came naturally.
Since his diagnosis, Matthias has started taking Risdiplam, a daily medication, and attends regular physiotherapy. We also do the exercises taught by his therapists every day, hoping to help him hold on to the strength he still has.
Why every day matters for our baby
Our doctors have recommended Zolgensma, a one-time gene therapy that targets the cause of SMA and offers Matthias the best chance of slowing its progression.
The strength Matthias has already lost may not return, which is why his doctors have recommended that he receive the treatment as early as possible, preferably before he turns 12 months old.
With about 3 months left before Matthias turns one, we know there are no guarantees. We simply want to give him the best chance we possibly can.
A treatment we cannot afford alone
Zolgensma costs $2,397,300, an amount far beyond what our family can afford.
Since Matthias’ diagnosis, our lives have revolved around hospital appointments, therapy, medication and home exercises. Every small achievement has become something we celebrate because we know how much effort it takes for him.
We are doing everything we can and have explored every avenue available to us. Even with our own contributions, the cost remains beyond our means.
That is why we are turning to the community for help.
Your support will stand alongside our efforts and give our little boy the opportunity to receive a life-changing treatment that could make a meaningful difference to his future.
The future we hope for our son
More than anything, we hope to see Matthias sit on his own, play with other children, feed himself and, one day, stand or walk to the best of his ability.
We hope this treatment will help him preserve his strength and give him every possible opportunity to grow and thrive.
Matthias will continue to need medical care, therapy, and love and support from our family. Right now, we have a precious window of opportunity, and we do not want to look back one day wondering if we could have done more.
Please help us give Matthias this chance
If you are able to support Matthias through a donation, we would be deeply grateful. Sharing his story with others would mean just as much to our family. You can also follow Matthias’ story on Instagram @walkwithmatthias for updates.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading our story, for keeping Matthias in your thoughts and prayers, and for giving our family hope.
With love and gratitude,
Benjamin and Yun Hann
From Ray of Hope
Baby Matthias’ campaign has been verified by Ray of Hope case managers. We have sighted doctors’ letters outlining the recommended treatment options and have verified the information with Matthias’ treating physician.
Your support will go directly towards Matthias’ treatment and care. 100% of donations will be used for his medical treatment, subject to the deduction of payment processing charges imposed by third party payment service providers.
Ray of Hope Team
*The campaign goal includes a 1.8% payment processing fee.
No updates on this campaign yet
Nuo Nuo donated
S$50
Stay strong mum, dad and baby Matthias
12 seconds ago
Jing ke Koh donated
S$50
You can do it Matthias! HANG IN THERE!
27 seconds ago
Anonymous donated
S$100
Jiayou Matthias, Papa, Mama!
40 seconds ago
FAQ
1. There was a similar campaign on Ray of Hope where the cost of Zolgensma was higher. Why is it lower this time?
Ray of Hope receives the cost of treatment directly from the hospital. As of April 2023, Zolgensma has been registered with Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), bringing the cost down to SGD 2,370,000.
————————————————————————————————————————
2. How will the campaign funds be used?
Donations made to this campaign will be held and administered by Ray of Hope. If the campaign target is achieved, Ray of Hope will pay the hospital directly for the cost of Matthias’ treatment.
If there are any excess funds, they will be used for Matthias’ related medical and care expenses, including hospital bills, medication, follow-up care, physiotherapy, and other verified expenses connected with Matthias’ care, condition and recovery.
Ray of Hope will ensure that the campaign funds are used and applied in line with the purpose of this campaign.
————————————————————————————————————————
3. Are donations refundable? What happens to excess or remaining funds?
Donations made to this campaign are non-refundable.
- If the campaign target is met, Ray of Hope will use the funds to pay the hospital directly for the cost of Matthias’ treatment, as mentioned in FAQ No. 2 above.
- Any funds raised in excess of the treatment cost, or any funds that are not required for the treatment itself, will be used for Matthias’ related medical and care expenses, including hospital bills, medication, follow-up care, physiotherapy, and other verified expenses connected with Matthias’ care, condition and recovery.
- If the remaining funds can no longer be used or are no longer needed for Matthias’ medical or care needs, they will go towards Ray of Hope’s Medical and Health Hope Circle, to support other verified medical or healthcare-related campaigns.
NOTE: Tips donated to Ray of Hope at checkout are also non-refundable, as they go towards supporting Ray of Hope’s casework and crowdfunding operations. Thank you for your support.
————————————————————————————————————————
4. What happens if the campaign target is not reached, and there are insufficient funds for Matthias’ treatment?
If the campaign does not raise enough funds for Zolgensma, or if Zolgensma can no longer proceed for medical or other reasons, Ray of Hope will seek an update from Matthias’ attending physician and parents on the next possible treatment options or care plan. Ray of Hope will provide updates to donors by email.
It is our hope that Baby Matthias can get the treatment that he needs. We also know that the campaign target is a large sum. In the unfortunate event that the funds raised are insufficient for Zolgensma, Ray of Hope will ensure that the funds raised will continue to be used in accordance with FAQ No. 3 above.
————————————————————————————————————————
5. What happens if Matthias passes on before receiving the treatment?
If Matthias passes on before receiving the treatment, Ray of Hope will consult Matthias’ parents and, where appropriate, the attending medical team on outstanding medical, hospital and related care expenses. Any remaining campaign funds will be applied in accordance with FAQ No. 3 above.
If the hospital refunds any part of the treatment cost, such refunded amounts will also remain as campaign funds and be similarly applied in accordance with FAQ No. 3 above.
————————————————————————————————————————
6. How can I donate?
All donations shall be made via this campaign page which gives you the option to donate via Credit Card or via PayNow by scanning the unique QR code generated for the campaign.
Please do not donate directly to Ray of Hope’s UEN via PayNow, as we will not be able to track your donations to the specific campaign.
————————————————————————————————————————
7. Does Ray of Hope take a cut or charge an administrative fee for running this campaign?
No, Ray of Hope does not charge a platform fee or administrative fee on donations made to this campaign. Only a payment processing fee of 1.8% is charged on donations by the payment service provider and is in addition to the campaign’s target amount.
If you wish, you may add an optional tip or donation to Ray of Hope at checkout. This is separate from the campaign donation and helps us continue supporting children like Matthias.
————————————————————————————————————————
8. Is this campaign eligible for tax deductions?
No, donations to this campaign are not eligible for tax deduction. Tax deduction receipts (TDRs) will not be issued for donations made to this campaign as it is an individual campaign.
Note: In accordance with applicable regulations:
- Direct donations to any of the Hope Circles are tax deductible – TDRs will be issued.
- Donations made to individual or personal fundraising campaigns (such as this campaign) are not tax deductible– TDRs will not be issued.
————————————————————————————————————————
9. How will I be updated?
Ray of Hope will provide campaign updates through the campaign page and/or email updates where appropriate.
————————————————————————————————————————
100% of your donation goes to Help Baby Matthias Receive Urgent Gene Therapy for SMA
Give hope now!
-
100% to Clients
All donations go to our clients, there are no hidden platform fees.
-
Certified for Good
ROH is a registered IPC charity and audited by MCCY.
-
Verified Campaigns
Our case managers carefully assess and verify every campaign.
https://rayofhope.sg/campaign/walkwithmatthias/
View Similar Campaigns
CAMPAIGN ENDS IN 91 DAYS
