Kidney gives woman new lease of life
SIBU: Kidney patient Hashimah Mahmud, 56, has been given a new lease of life since getting a new kidney three years ago – after 17 years of undergoing dreadful dialysis.
She told reporters in an interview recently that she had spent 17 years undergoing dialysis at Sibu Kidney Foundation (SKF) until three years ago when she was told to get ready for a kidney transplant.
“When I got the news, of course I was happy because for 17 years, I lived in uncertainty.
“Now, I spend most of my time at home taking care of my parents.
“My father is in his 90s and my mother in the 80s.
“All I want is that they can live healthily and happily because when they are happy and healthy, I am happy too,” she said.
Hashimah was diagnosed with kidney ailment in 1997. The following year, she started dialysis.
She sensed something was not right with her health when she developed occasional dizziness, weakness, headache and so on.
When her health deteriorated, she went to various clinics in Sibu, but no doctor could give her any explanation.
“That time, I was working as a salesperson.
“Later, health problems forced me to quit the job I had for 20 years,” she recalled.
She said she was in and out of the hospital.
When I got the news, of course I was happy because for 17 years, I lived in uncertainty. Now, I spend most of my time at home taking care of my parents. My father is in his 90s and my mother in the 80s. All I want is that they can live healthily and happily because when they are happy and healthy, I am happy too.
“I also went to Kuching to fi nd out what was wrong with me.
“Eventually, I was told I had high blood pressure and kidney failure.
“The doctor did not know what had caused it,” she lamented.
She said she was the first in the family to suffer kidney failure.
“Two brothers wanted to give me a kidney, but were later found to be not suitable donors.
“Then my sister offered to give me one of hers.
“I declined the offer, knowing she has a family of many children to look after.
“I did not want anything to happen to her, so I opted to go for dialysis,” she said.
She recalled that her fi rst three years of dialysis was the hardest as she was at the weakest point of health.
“I was so fragile then. Later, I regained strength. I was determined then to live on.
“People asked if I feared death. I told them I honestly didn’t want to think about it or that I was sick. I just wanted to live a normal life,” she said.
Hashimah said it was not that she refused to live in consonance with fate.
“I just refused to give up. I didn’t want to be defeated,” she recalled.
She said she found solace in God, and lived hard, worked hard and tried as much as possible to live a normal lifestyle.
However, the path of her life took another cruel turn – her father suffered a stroke.
From then on, she had an additional burden – taking extra care of her father.
Hashimah said during those years, she tried hard to live as if she was not a kidney patient.
“I went to work as usual, did household chores, and took care of my parents.
“I hardly got any rest, but I didn’t feel like I was sick. I remained strong,” she said.
For seven years, she worked part-time at SKF.
After her two brothers were found to be unsuitable as donors, the thought of going for kidney transplant never occurred to her.
One day in 2015, Hashimah was told she would be getting a new kidney.
The operation was done in Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Since then, she no longer need to go for dialysis.
Hashimah Mahmud, Kidney patient