The world of Tzu Chi July-August 2022 (Vol.142)

TZU CHI 142 43 of strength. I am blessed to have them shoulder this with me.” Natasha’s father originally raised a monkey to pick coconuts. Her mother, Che Wan binti Yusof, made kuih and earned a meagre income to help support the family. When Natasha was studying in Kuala Lumpur, they saved and remitted money for her allowance over the three years. Life was simple but content for the family. Since her father had a stroke and could no longer work, the monkey was released into the forest. Natasha and her mother worked together to sell traditional Malay kuih , earning 30 cents of profit per piece. However, that did not last, as two years later, 54-year-old Che Wan had kidney failure. On top of the salary the brother earned, the family received financial aid from the Welfare Department, and food allowance from the Malacca Islamic Religion Council. The Social Security Organization (SOCSO) also covered 85% of Che Wan’s dialysis expenses. The family lived frugally, but still could not afford the remaining dialysis fee of RM35, which became the last straw that crushed the family. In order to raise funds, Natasha sold some goats and reached out to relatives, friends, associations and political parties for help. It was inevitable to receive scorns and shut doors. The tough circumstance left Natasha choked every time she thought about it. However, she tried to remain calm in front of her parents because if she broke down, they would be sad too. Good news! Tzu Chi offered assistance In 2019, Natasha approached Tzu Chi Malacca. Volunteer Ng Siew Peng and husband, Tai Kim Long, and another volunteer visited the family, and soon, brought news of after suffering a second stroke! Angeline initially thought that there was only one patient in the family, but it turned out that both the parents were ill. Having witnessed Natasha caring for both of them so skilfully, she could not help but gave her a thumbs-up. “Not many girls are like Natasha, so responsible and taking it seriously. She is doing a great job and I am willing to help them in any way I can!” Abandoned expansion due to a stroke In 2016, Natasha, who was in her early 20s, returned home to Pengkalan Balak after completing her Diploma in Culinary Arts, only to find her father had suffered a stroke and had abandoned the house expansion work, which he had been doing little by little whenever he had the money. As Natasha’s eldest brother was jailed for drug abuse, and her two younger brothers were working and studying respectively, Natasha chose to return home to take care of her parents. In fact, Kamarudin is Natasha’s adoptive father. Nevertheless, she did not complain of hard work nor considered it a burden having to take care of her adoptive parents now. Instead, she regarded it as her responsibility as a child. Returning to simplicity from a world of temptation, her world shrank to only a handphone, family and goats. Her parents felt sorry for her, but she responded heartily, “I am the best suited candidate.” She said, “My third brother is responsible for maintaining household income and accompanying my parents to the hospital. My youngest brother and I take turns to care for our parents at home and massage them at night. If I am too tired and fall asleep, my brother would take over. When my parents’ condition changes, I would inform my siblings. They are my pillars