KAJANG: A mother's sacrifice in giving birth to and raising her children can never truly be repaid. However, caring for this special person while there is still a chance is among the best one can do.
Holding firmly to this principle, Alif Rosehaizad, 36, left his comfortable job at a private company to fully care for his mother, who became paralysed after suffering a brain injury more than two years ago.
The story of Alif Rosehaizad, 36, who cares for his mother, known as Che, 68, has touched the hearts of netizens on TikTok through his account, @alifr0z, inspiring admiration for his invaluable sacrifice.
"My mother was diagnosed with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), a brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen, in June 2022, which left her completely paralysed," he told Bernama when met at their home in Bandar Seri Putra recently.
According to the third of six siblings, all male, they initially hired a private nurse to care for their mother during the day, as the older siblings had work commitments while the younger ones were still studying.
"Over the course of a year, we had to change private nurses four times because they became exhausted. Caring for someone bedridden required them to handle everything, especially since my mother couldn’t speak or respond physically except for eye movements.
"In fact, when it was my turn to care for her at night or on weekends while we were still using the private nursing service, I noticed a significant difference-my mother looked healthier and more radiant because I cared for her as meticulously as I care for myself," he said.
Alif admitted that caring for someone completely paralysed is a tremendous mental and physical challenge, requiring an extraordinary level of patience.
However, he expressed gratitude that his role in caring for his mother is supported by his father, Rosehaizad Abd Wahab, 68, and his siblings, with each contributing in their own way, even if their efforts are not always visible in the TikTok videos he shares.
He added that his two older brothers, who are married, and his younger sibling help care for their mother on weekends, allowing him to rest and spend time with friends.
Speaking about his daily caregiving routine, the International Islamic University Malaysia graduate said his tasks include feeding his mother every three hours, preparing her medication, changing her diapers and clothes, bathing her, as well as cooking and cleaning the house.
Alif said in the early stages of caring for his mother, he felt awkward due to his lack of experience in caring for the sick. He mainly learned specific techniques informally through YouTube videos, observing how the nurses cared for his mother, and asking others for advice.
"Since my mother is bedridden, I also move her arms and legs, adjust her position to prevent bedsores, and clean her tracheostomy tube, which is inserted to help her breathe," he said.
Determined to care for his mother for as long as he can, Alif shared that nothing brings him greater happiness than repaying the sacrifices of the woman who gave birth to him and raised him and his five siblings.
"When I first quit my job, I thought I would only be taking care of her for three or six months. But now, before I know it, it has been over two years. As long as my mother is here, I will continue to take care of her.
"At the same time, I do part-time work from home that aligns with my skills, such as writing," he said, adding that he actively shares videos about proper caregiving techniques, particularly for bedridden patients. – Bernama
