The world of Tzu Chi September 2023 (Vol.147)

2023 • 09 26 their once-happy home. In the ensuing years, though her son would visit occasionally, there was a palpable distance between them. In 2014, while leading a tour, Stella suffered a sudden stroke that left her right side stiff. Following her hospitalisation, her son moved her to a nursing home due to concerns about her living alone with limited mobility. Despite the challenges she faced, Stella refused to be defeated. She diligently underwent physical therapy and acupuncture, gradually regaining her health. Two years later, she left the nursing home and returned to her mother’s house in Ipoh for further recuperation. By 2022, having made significant progress in her health, Stella returned to her home in Kuala Lumpur. Initially planning to resume her career as a tour guide, she faced the harsh reality of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the tourism industry. Unable to secure employment and facing financial worries, she reached out to Tzu Chi KL & Selangor for assistance. After a home visit and thorough assessment, Tzu Chi volunteers determined that Stella had enough resources to meet her basic needs for the time being. However, recognising that she was an elderly person living alone, they decided to include her in their care recipient list and commit to visiting her monthly to provide care. On their subsequent visits, Stella no longer mentioned the living subsidy application, but instead, asked if the volunteers could help clean her house. A fresh home and inner peace The volunteers spent five hours clearing out various items from the balcony, living