KUCHING
13 SEPTEMBER 2026
Richie anak Baxter, a 6-year-old boy who should be excited about meeting his friends at school, has instead spent more time in the hospital than his family ever expected.
Richie has always been described by those who know him as a very active and whimsical little boy. There were no obvious signs that anything was wrong, and the family never suspected that he would one day be diagnosed with cancer.
His diagnosis came unexpectedly. One of Richie’s family members was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), prompting the whole family to undergo health screenings. During the screening, a doctor noticed something unusual in Richie’s lungs. Further checks revealed that it was cancer.
For the family, it was a blessing in disguise. Richie had not shown any obvious symptoms, and the screening allowed the family to discover his cancer before symptoms began to appear.
In April this year, Richie was diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma, which had spread to other parts of his body. Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that develops in nerve tissue and commonly affects young children. Shortly after receiving the devastating news, Richie and his family had to make an urgent trip to Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM in Kuala Lumpur, where he needed to undergo a transplant as soon as possible.
Four months have now passed since Richie took on the title of a “childhood cancer fighter”, and in that short time, he has gone through so much more than any child should have to endure.
Even so, Richie continues to be as active as ever. He loves dancing more than anything. He cannot hear a K-Pop song without getting up to dance.
For Richie, dancing has become a way of getting through the long hospital days.
Needle for his stem cell collection? Dance.
Waiting to go into the operating theatre? Dance.
His mother, Sherolina Lutong, 34, recalled that the journey to Kuala Lumpur, a city unfamiliar to her, was difficult, especially as it came shortly after Richie had undergone an operation at Sarawak General Hospital. Still recovering from the operation, Richie would often throw tantrums as he was uncomfortable, scared and unsure of what was happening around him.
The family also had to remain in Kuala Lumpur for some time after the transplant to closely monitor Richie’s blood counts and recovery.
What made the journey even more difficult was that Sherolina had to be away from her three-month-old baby back home in Serian. She gave birth to her baby just a month after Richie was diagnosed with cancer.
As a mother, leaving her newborn behind was not easy. But she knew she had to focus on Richie and his treatment first.
Sherolina recalled that even while she was in the labour room giving birth, her mind was constantly thinking about Richie. Right after two weeks of confinement, she returned to the hospital to continue taking care of him.
While in Kuala Lumpur, the only way she could stay connected with her family back home was through video calls, while continuing to be by Richie’s side throughout his treatment.
Sherolina also worries about how the situation has affected Richie’s 10-year-old older sister. She noticed that her daughter had become quieter during this period. A mother’s instinct tells Sherolina that she may be feeling left out, as much of the family’s attention has naturally been focused on Richie and his treatment.
For Sherolina, this has been another difficult part of the journey.
SCCS is providing financial support to Richie’s family throughout his treatment journey, with a focus on funding his immunotherapy — a critical step expected to significantly improve his treatment outcomes. This support also extends to his surgery and transplant procedures, covering associated medical costs such as laboratory tests and scans. SCCS also arranged for a paediatric surgeon to travel from West Malaysia to Kuching to perform the tumour removal surgery on Richie’s right thorax, covering the surgeon’s accommodation and travel expenses, as well as the family’s meals and round-trip flights between Kuching and Kuala Lumpur.
This support enables Sherolina and her husband to focus on Richie’s care and recovery without the added burden of worrying about the significant costs associated with treatment and extended hospital stays.
As of August 2026, Richie’s estimated treatment cost stands at RM179,843.20, comprising RM59,843.20 for his autologous bone marrow transplant and RM120,000 for Dinutuximab immunotherapy, all of which SCCS supported 100%.
For Sherolina, however, SCCS’s support goes beyond financial assistance.
She shared that the care and emotional support from SCCS have been equally important during a difficult time for the family. She appreciates how SCCS continues to create moments of happiness and normalcy for children undergoing treatment.
In Ward 2A, SCCS makes an effort to keep the environment bright and meaningful for the children. From celebrating birthdays to marking festivities such as Hari Gawai, these moments may seem small, but they mean a lot to families spending long periods in the hospital.
“These little things are very important because they make us feel that we are not alone and that people genuinely care about Richie and our family,” Sherolina said.
Sherolina also has a message for other parents going through a similar situation: to continue the fight.
She understands that the journey is not easy. Some treatments may go smoothly, while others may take longer than expected. But through it all, she believes children need the support of their parents more than ever.
According to the President of SCCS, Mary Kiu Ai Ling (邱爱玲), Richie’s story is not unique.
“In 2025 alone, SCCS spent approximately RM2 million on medical aid for more than 100 children, our highest spend ever recorded since we were registered in 2001. Treatments today are more advanced, more targeted, and more effective — but they are also significantly more expensive. Immunotherapy, in particular, can mean the difference between relapse and survival. We’re here to make sure a family’s financial situation never determines whether their child gets to live.”
Mary added that SCCS’s support extends beyond medical treatment, helping families with the many additional costs that come with a child’s cancer journey.
“We support families with treatment and medical costs beyond the government hospital’s primary care, as well as accommodation, transportation and food. For families who need to seek treatment outside Sarawak, we also help arrange flights and transport, together with weekly allowances for eligible families. None of this would be possible without the continued generosity and trust of our donors and partners,” she said.
After months of treatment in Kuala Lumpur, Richie finally returned to Sarawak General Hospital on 31 August and will continue his treatment in Kuching. While his treatment journey is far from over, being back in Sarawak means he is now closer to his family.
And perhaps, closer to the things that make him Richie again like his family, his friends, and of course, his K-Pop songs and dancing.
The public can help children like Richie by taking part in the Childhood Cancer Awareness Walk, now rescheduled to 7 November 2026 due to the haze. Registration remains open, with a RM50 donation per participant going directly towards supporting children with cancer and families like Richie’s throughout their treatment journey.
Although the walk has been postponed, SCCS’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month campaign continues. As part of the Light It Up Gold 2026 campaign, SCCS illuminated the Darul Hana Bridge in gold on the night of 12 September, accompanied by the message “September adalah Bulan Kesedaran Kanser Kanak-Kanak”, to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and stand in solidarity with children and families facing childhood cancer across Sarawak.
The bridge lighting was originally planned to accompany the awareness walk. Despite the postponement, SCCS chose to continue the initiative as a reminder that childhood cancer does not pause.
As part of SCCS’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month efforts, several retailers, mostly in Kuching, are also coming together to support children with cancer and their families. Throughout September, participating businesses are contributing a portion of their sales from selected products to SCCS. These community-led initiatives give members of the public another simple way to show their support, while going about their everyday purchases. Details of the participating businesses and their September initiatives are available on SCCS’s official website and social media channels.
SCCS relies on public support to continue funding life-saving treatments, including immunotherapy, while providing financial and emotional support to families throughout their child’s cancer journey. Every donation, no matter the amount, helps give children with cancer a greater chance to survive, recover, and grow up like every other child.
Members of the public who wish to support children like Richie can contribute to the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society at https://sccs.org.my/donate-now/ or call 082-686 276, and be part of giving children with cancer a chance at life.
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About Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS)
Mission – To provide care and support for Malaysian children and their families who are suffering from childhood cancer in Sarawak.
The Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society is a non-profit organisation founded in November 2001, dedicated to meeting the needs of families of patients diagnosed with paediatric cancer in Sarawak irrespective of race, religion, age or gender. The SCCS committee is made up of 70% patients’ parents and 30% volunteers. The Society has supported more than 1,800 children since 2001.
Our Services
Support
Through counselling sessions, home visits, support programmes, youth and family camps, and informal friendships, SCCS provides emotional and moral support to members of its community. In 2025, SCCS provided 957 caring sessions and 57 counselling sessions to 350 patients, youths and caregivers.
Accommodation
SCCS operates a 14-bedroom Children’s Cancer Centre (CCC) as a temporary living house for outstation patients, with full provision of food and amenities. Daily shuttle services are provided to and from the hospital. 41 families were provided with 3,020 nights stay in 2025 at RM195,921 in expenses.
Financial Assistance
To families demonstrating financial need, SCCS provides monetary assistance through monthly financial subsidies, medical treatment not covered by the government, and transport subsidies. 47 families received financial aid in 2025, amounting to a total of RM85,900.00 while monthly transport subsidies were provided to a total amount of RM68,569 for 57 families. SCCS provided RM2,043,838 in medical sponsorships for procedures, drugs, consumables, lab tests, and prostheses for over 100 patients.
Education
SCCS holds talks and campaigns to educate the public about cancer and the stigmas often attached to it. Educational and craft activities are also organised for the children to keep their minds off the treatment. SCCS introduced patient education in 2025 for children and caregivers to better understand and prepare for their treatment journey, and also supports funding for medical staff training to allow them to provide better care for the patients. 44 patients and caregivers attended 54 sessions of patient education in 2025, while 10 medical staff received training supported by SCCS, who saw over 9,000 attendees at the annual childhood cancer awareness event in 2025.
Recreation
SCCS organises outings, holiday camps, children’s parties and other activities for children and their families to heighten the spirit of the families. For children with cancer, each birthday is a victory. SCCS held birthday celebrations for 98 children and 129 recreational activities in 2025.
Official Website: www.sccs.org.my
Facebook: fb.com/sccsmy
Instagram: @sccsmy
