The world of Tzu Chi June 2024 (Vol.150)

TZU CHI 150 13 O n an ordinary afternoon at the iRehab Centre, Nurul Aidah, dressed neatly and seated in her wheelchair, broke the silence of the room with a heartfelt message, “Thank you for helping me to sit up again!” This simple statement—a result of immense effort and perseverance—surprised her physiotherapist, Teh Chiah Wen. Aidah, a diligent and sensible young girl, was looking forward to starting university when life took a drastic turn in May 2022. While working part-time at a fast-food restaurant, she suddenly collapsed and was rushed to the Shah Alam Hospital, where she stayed in the intensive care unit for a month and was diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis. Not only did she become bedridden, but she also lost her ability to speak. As the prognosis was grim, doctors recommended that she be discharged for home-based physical therapy. A single mother’s resilience To care for Aidah, her mother, Nor Rohimah, had to quit her sales job. While she was prepared to make that sacrifice, she was overwhelmed by her child’s illness and the financial strain on her single-parent household. The helplessness left her feeling like she was trapped in an unending darkness. A glimmer of hope surfaced when Tzu Chi volunteers, who had been providing care officially since August, noticed Nor Rohimah’s financial struggles and stepped in to offer further assistance. In addition to applying for monthly subsidies for living expenses from Tzu Chi, the volunteers guided Nor Rohimah in navigating government and public resources. With their help, Aidah was not only granted financial support from Tzu Chi, but also a few hundred Ringgits of monthly financial aid, as well as complimentary milk and diaper supplies, and ambulance services from other organisations. Watch the video: