Cancer patient struggles to care for disabled children
KUCHING: Hope Place visited a single father recently in Kampung Rantau Panjang, Batu Kawa, who is taking care of four children.
Barkaline Hassan, a 49-yearold divorcee, was diagnosed with throat cancer last year and because of that, his whole life turned upside down.
Barkaline used to be a daily paid construction worker but since last December, he has stopped working.
When he started getting chemotherapy treatment in April this year, he began to have difficulty in speaking and is only able to manage little whispers.
Currently, Barkaline is using tube feeding, with the tube directly connected to his stomach.
He is only taking Nutren Optimum milk powder as sustenance, consuming one can within four days.
Barkaline has four children, two of whom are disabled.
His third child who is only 15 years is not only disabled but also has auto immune disease.
His youngest child Aiman has multiple disability(OKU) and it was Aiman’s teacher who informed Hope Place of the family’s troubles.
The teacher was concerned after Aiman was absent from the special school for a few months earlier this year and thus decided to pay the family a visit.
The only breadwinner in the family now is Barkaline’s eldest child who is currently working in Emart.
However, his daughter’s salary cannot cover Barkaline’s medical bills as well as buying the special milk powder.
Hope Place is looking for sponsorship for Barkaline’s Nutren Optimum and its founder
Kelvin Wan is helping the family with some basic food as well.
Those who wish to help Barkaline can call Hope Place at 013-5672775.