A Mother’s Love is Beyond Measure

The Home Visit Team recently travelled to Perak to visit patients on bursary assistance with MAKNA. This May, they share with us the story of a steadfast single mother, unconditional love and the strength of a family that goes above and beyond to fight for their loved one diagnosed with leukemia.

Aina Khadeeja Roslan, 12 year old who is diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia since 2015.

Aina (middle) with her sisters who were willing to donate their bone marrow just to see their sister healthy and able to spend time with them.

 

Kasih Ibu Tiada Ganti

Menyusuri perkampungan Parit Ali Kalang yang terletak di Bagan Serai, Perak telah mempertemukan kami dengan seorang ibu tunggal yang begitu cekal hatinya dalam membesarkan anak-anak. Norfazilah Yaakob berusia 42 tahun merupakan ibu kepada tujuh orang cahaya mata berusia antara 18 hingga 12 tahun yang mana kesemuanya masih lagi dalam alam persekolahan.

Berbekalkan kudrat wanitanya beliau sebelum ini bekerja sebagai pembantu kedai makan dengan memperoleh pendapatan yang tidak menentu terpaksa berhenti bekerja setelah salah seorang puteri kembarnya (triplets) iaitu Aina Khadeeja Roslan disahkan menghidap Chronic Myeloid Leukemia semenjak Februari 2015 yang lalu. Keadaan ini menuntut beliau untuk berulang alik ke Hospital Kuala Lumpur setiap bulan bagi memastikan anaknya menerima rawatan sepertimana yang disyorkan oleh Pegawai Perubatan. Selain HKL, Khadeeja juga perlu mendapatkan rawatan di Hospital Pulau Pinang.

Bagi adik-beradik yang lain, mereka seolah-olah telah memahami rutin ibu dan adiknya untuk berulang-alik ke hospital maka mereka akan membantu dan menjaga antara satu sama lain sewaktu ketiadaan ibunya.

Pengalaman ibunya menceritakan detik Khadeeja untuk melakukan transplant pada Julai 2015 yang lalu, kesemua adik-beradiknya beria untuk mendermakannya bagi memastikan adik mereka kembali sihat seperti sedia kala. Ternyata hubungan yang terjalin antara mereka adik-beradik begitu erat dan sanggup berkorban untuk adik tersayang mereka.

Tambah ibunya lagi beliau dan Khadeeja juga pernah melalui detik sukar yang mana sewaktu dalam perjalanan ke Hospital Pulau Pinang dengan menaiki motosikal mereka berdua telah terlibat dalam kemalangan. Mujurlah kecederaan yang dialami tidak begitu serius. Namun selepas daripada kejadian tersebut beliau serik untuk ke hospital lagi dengan menunggang motosikal.

Dengan bekerja sebagai pembuat kuih-muih, Norfazilah gigih dalam membesarkan tujuh orang cahaya matanya. Selain itu beliau juga merupakan penerima bantuan kewangan daripada Jabatan Kebajikan Masyrakat. Nasib keluarga ini beruntung apabila tutut mendapat sokongan yang baik daripada nenek dan juga ibu saudaranya yang tinggal berdekatan dengan kediaman mereka.

Ibu adalah wanita yang paling berjasa dalam kehidupan seorang anak. Amat besar kasih sayang dan pengorbanan ibu kepada anak-anaknya.

English Translation

A Mother’s Love is Beyond Measure

Meandering through the scenic village of Perkampungan Parit Ali Kalang in Bagan Serai, Perak, we drove to visit a single mother fighting to give her children a future against all odds. Armed with her maternal instincts, Norfazilah Yaakob, 42, is raising seven school-going children aged between 12 and 18, all on her own.

She used to help out at a small food shop where she earned an irregular salary but had to quit her job to look after one of her triplets, Aina Khadeeja Roslan, who was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in February 2015. This has made it necessary for her to travel back and forth to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) every month to ensure her daughter received the treatment prescribed by her physician. Besides HKL, Khadeeja and her mother also travel to the Penang Hospital (HPP).

The siblings seemed to understand their mother’s and sister’s routine visits to hospital. They looked after themselves and each other in the absence of their mother. Indeed, their circumstances have made them more self-reliant and mature in handling matters, without depending on her.

The mother was sharing a moving moment in July 2015 when Khadeeja needed to undergo a bone marrow transplant. All of her siblings were keen to volunteer to donate their bone marrow just to see their sister healthy and back to normal again. This demonstrated the closeness, unconditional love and self-sacrifice the siblings had for their beloved sister. The mother was very pleased with the support given by all her children. Some of them even wept when they could not volunteer their bone marrow due to incompatibility with Khadeeja.

Khadeeja’s mother also shared a trying time when they met with an accident on their way to Hospital Pulau Pinang by motorcycle. Fortunately, their injuries were minimal but following the incident, Norfazilah has been wary about travelling to the hospital on motorcycle.

Apart from receiving assistance from MAKNA to help with Khadeeja’s medical costs, Norfazilah makes kuih (traditional cakes) for sale to raise her children. The family also receives assistance from the Welfare Department and support from their grandmother and aunt who live close by.

Mothers are known to be the pillars of strength and most devoted advocates to their children. How great the love and sacrifice of this mother for her children!