Helping an elderly, paralysed man
KOTA two old Joseph months, KINABALU: Juanis paralysed Miat For has the 75year been past living outside his brother’s stilt house in a squalid condition.
This was because, according to his younger brother Conrad, 68, it was easier to get him to the bathroom outside the house.
“I am old and unable to carry him up and down the house for baths or to use the toilet, so I decided to let him stay downstairs,” he said at their old wooden house in Kampung Madsiang Penampang on Saturday.
Their plight caught the atten
tion of organisations, including JCI, Upko GenY movement, wheelchair charity run team, Kota Kinabalu Lions Club Centennial and the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Youth council.
Led by KDCA Youth Council president Ceasar Mandela Malakun, the teams comprising dozens of members helped build a small room and equip it with a bed and fan.
“We also got uncle (Joseph) a radio as he had asked for it, saying he always felt bored with nothing to do and no one to talk to,” Mandela said.
Essentials such as adult diapers and food were given to the family as well.
Conrad said before he became paralysed,
Joseph used to walk to visit relatives, go to the market and kept himself busy.
“But now he can’t do anything,” he said, adding he never felt burdened in taking care of Joseph as he is the only sibling he has left.
They have several other siblings but all have died.
Apart from Conrad, his wife and three children in their 20s, 30s and 40s, help to take care of Joseph.
JCI Penampang past president Douglas Valentine who was at the event said they all spent about RM10,000 for the whole project.
“We are glad to be part of this programme and knowing that we all helped make someone’s life a bit better is humbling,” he said.