SINGAPORE - Despite her tender age and being almost totally blind,
11-year-old Adelyn Koh has composed four songs and produced her own
album - all in hope that the CD sales will raise the $80,000 she
needs for her medical expenses.
Adelyn was born with a rare congenital eye disease called Peter's
Anomaly, which means that she had "opaque" corneas. According to
The Straits Times, there are only one to two such cases in
Singapore a year.
To save her eyes, she underwent four operations even before the age
of one - four operations on her right eye, and one on her
left.
Unfortunately, all four operations were failures, and she can now
only make out colours, light and shadows, Chinese daily Lianhe
Wanbao reported.
Her trials didn't end there, as her father left home two years ago,
never to return.
Her mother Mary Koh, 39, a housewife of 10 years, was forced to
find work as a tuition teacher to take care of her three young
daughters.
Hope to see again
Adelyn has never given up hope that she'll one day be able to see
again.
"She has this very high desire - she wants to see what's going on,"
her mother said. At times, Adelyn's frustration at not being able
to see has caused her to lash out, asking: "Why am I the only one
in the family who can't see?"
In a short documentary on her life, she shared how she would like
to see, even if it's just for a year, a week, or "just a little
while, even if it does go back to normal again".
Last year, Ms Koh learnt of a new type of artificial cornea
transplant called "Boston Kpro"
Explaining her wish to send Adelyn for another cornea transplant
despite the previous four failures, Ms Koh said: "There is no best
gift to be given to her, other than sending her to do the
transplant again."
"According to eye specialist, her vision is now equivalent to zero
per cent. No one able to guarantee it will be successful, but there
will be totally no hope if we do not try at all," she added.
Hoping to let her daughter see again, Ms Koh decided to accept the
transplant surgery. However, the surgery, scheduled for early
November, would set the family back $80,000 - $40,000 for each
eye.
With a pay cheque of just $1,500 for a family of four, it was money
they could not afford.
Special talent
Unwilling to add to her mother's burden, Adelyn spent two years
composing four original songs.
Ever since she was young, Adelyn loved to play the piano. At first,
she fumbled at the keys, but slowly, using her hearing as a guide,
she learnt to sing and even compose songs.
Ms Koh told the Chinese daily that when she sent her daughter to
learn the piano, her only hope was to cultivate joy in Adelyn's
life.
Unexpectedly, the lessons helped Adelyn realise her unusual talent
- she can play music from memory.
Adelyn only needs to listen to a song a few times to memorise the
tune and play it out on the piano.
"Little dream"
She has since passed the Grade 4 piano examinations and was even
invited to the President Star Charity show to play the piano while
singing "The Moon Represents My Heart".
Her efforts managed to raise $10 million in donations.
For the accomplished young girl who is a capable horse rider,
inline skater, ballet dancer and even a violinist, her disability
has never stopped her from achieving her dreams.
Now she is hoping that the same talent and determination can help
pave her way to regaining her sight. Her music has been published
in a CD, with the aim of using the proceeds to cover her medical
expenses.
Her CD, titled "Little Dream", is priced at $20 a copy and has sold
1,000 copies so far through the help of enthusiastic friends and
family spreading the word through blogs, Facebook and emails.
To raise another $60,000 for medical expenses, she must sell
another 4,000 CDs.
Those who wish to purchase the CD can email [email protected], or go to
adelynxinhui.blogspot.com to make an enquiry.