A mother’s love: Zainah helping Farah Nadia to check her blood pressure at their home.
A MOTHER’S love knows no bounds and Zainah Hajeed is living proof. The 47-year-old single mother will be donating a kidney to her daughter Farah Nadia Hamzah on March 10.
Farah Nadia, 23, is suffering from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus which is a chronic auto-immune disease that causes the body to produce large amounts of antibodies. The disease has now affected both her kidneys.
“We were supposed to have a transplant a few years ago but the doctors were unable to carry it out due to various issues, such as my daughter having high blood pressure on that day.
“We’ve been waiting for eight years.
“We need to rent a room near the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital a week before the operation and up to two months afterwards,” Zainah said at her home in Bayan Lepas.
“The operation costs below RM1,000 but renting a room will set us back at least RM500 a month,” she sighed.
Zainah said she had already borrowed RM10,000 from her family members and friends for a few minor operations to insert stents into Farah Nadia’s left arm to open up the clogged blood vessels.
“I used to work three jobs in a day. Now, I only sell clothes for a living and spend the remaining time caring for her when she undergoes dialysis,” she said.
Despite an uncertain future, both mother and daughter remain optimistic.
“I stopped going to school for a year as I was hospitalised,” said Farah Nadia.
“I really hope the operation will go smoothly this year. If it does, I can look forward to studying in a university,” she said.
The eldest of four children was first diagnosed with the disease in 2002 when she was 11.
Farah Nadia receives RM220 monthly aid from the Welfare Department and uses the aid for her travelling expenses to Penang Hospital for dialysis.
Her two younger brothers and sister are working to support the family.
Those who wish to help the family can contact Pertubuhan Ibu Tunggal Pulau Pinang president Latifah Hussainsa at 013-4361999.
