The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.128)

44 By Lo Ai Lian & Julie Yen Yu Chu Translated by Wong Xi Khai Photographs by Julie Yen Yu Chu ouching Life Story Carrying 4 kg of latex repeatedly over a long period of time caused Tamil Selvi to suffer from backache for years. She was left with no choice and had to stop working due to the weakness in her legs; this resulted in her family’s financial plight. Pinning hopes that she would be able to stand upright again, Tzu Chi volunteers, doctors and physiotherapists have been working hard to provide as much care and support as possible. Standing Upright Again After Nine Months T amil Selvi a/p Gunasegaram had been the sole breadwinner of her family after a broken marriage. She lives with her four young children, 79-year-old mother, 59-year-old father who works odd jobs, and a mentally challenged older sister, in a rented house. Previously, she also moonlighted as a janitor in a hospital. She would rush to tap rubber in the wee hours after completing her shift at the hospital. And once every few days, she would send the latex collected to a collection point. For years, she suffered from backache as she had been carrying 4 kg of latex over a prolonged period of time. One day in September 2019, she experienced sudden