The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.128)

TZU CHI 128 45 whenever her children tried to move her. It was heart wrenching to see. Her parents also mentioned about their deteriorating health, which could be aggravated by psychological stress. Hence, we felt they needed help from the doctors to manage their physical and mental health,” remarked volunteer Ong Yoke Ching, with empathy. Visit by the doctors On June 28, Dr. Saw Bee Chian and Dentist NgGuat Kiat fromTzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) visited Selvi’s family alongside six volunteers. Dr. Ng recalled seeing a clean and tidy environment upon entering the house; and Selvi’s ten-year-old son, Kishor Raj, and 11-year-old son, Sumen Raj, were busy cooking in the kitchen. It turned out that they were preparing fried rice for the volunteers and doctors, to show their appreciation. Dr. Ng, who was initially observing them, began to help them and even praised them for being so obedient. Looking at the kids shouldering an adult’s responsibility to take care of the family, and the hopeful smiles on Selvi’s face, Dr. Ng commented that if the mother had been sad and emotionally unstable, it would definitely affect her children and parents’ mood, and the household atmosphere would have been different. When Dr. Saw carried out reflex action test on Selvi’s soles, she was glad to discover that they were responding. “There’s hope!” she said happily. As it had been nine months since the surgery, Dr. Saw suggested the volunteers arrange for a physiotherapist to visit Selvi for further diagnosis and treatment, if need be. The two doctors also taught and reminded Selvi’s children to give her massages to improve blood circulation, stimulate her muscles in weakness in the legs and had to stop working. Upon diagnosis, the weakness in her legs was a result of nerve compression caused by lipomas on her back. After undergoing a surgery in October, she underwent a series of treatments in the hospital for over two months. However, no improvement was observed. She was then discharged from the hospital and sent home to recuperate although she was still bedridden. In March 2020, her family relocated from their rented apartment on the upper floor of a shoplot to a single-storey house due to her condition. In this new environment, the father was unable to get any odd jobs to support the family. The sudden implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in mid-March aggravated their financial plight. The family of eight was surviving on her sister’s monthly OKU (disabled person) allowance of RM250! Glimmer of hope “I even thought of ending my life!” said Selvi, on the brink of tears. Fortunately, when one door closes, another opens. An Indian Tzu Chi volunteer, Nadarajan a/l Kotaraju, upon hearing her family’ predicament from Selvi’s relative, reported it to Tzu Chi. After assessing the situation through a home visit on March 26, volunteers decided to provide emergency relief of basic necessities, to save the family from hunger. Then in April, Selvi’s family officially became Tzu Chi’s care recipient, enabling the receipt of monthly financial aid and provision of basic necessities. Concurrently, volunteers have also started planning ways to help them to regain financial independence. “I could see that Selvi was in pain