Ailing teen still does his bit to help ease financial burden
IPOH: Teenager Mohd Aidil Adha Muhd Nizal occasionally suffers from painful swelling of his feet and face as a result of nephrotic syndrome, but that does not deter him from helping his mother sell nasi lemak.
Mohd Aidil Adha, 14, said he wanted to lessen his mother’s burden as she was the sole breadwinner of the family after his father passed away in 2010.
“She is the only one taking care of my 12yearold brother and me.
“I will sometimes cycle around to sell the nasi lemak,” he told a press conference initiated by Perak Barisan Nasional Public Service and Complaints Centre chief Mohd Rawi Abdullah at the family’s house in Silibin here yesterday.
Nephrotic syndrome occurs when tiny filtering units in the kidneys do not work properly, resulting in the release of too much protein into the urine.
It can cause swelling, especially on the feet, ankle, face and around the eyes.
Despite his condition, Mohd Aidil Adha said he wanted to become a policeman when he grew up but for now, he hoped to return to school, graduate and look after his mother.
His mother Aida Ghazali, 39, said Mohd Aidil Adha’s teacher had advised him to stop schooling after his condition worsened earlier this year and he became very ill for three days.
She said he was diagnosed with the disease at the age of two.
“He only started dialysis treatment earlier this year when his condition worsened after attending a Kemahiran Hidup (Life Skills) class.
“According to his doctor, he will have to undergo dialysis for life unless a (kidney) donor can be found,” she added.
Aida said she was running out of money for dialysis fluid, which costs RM200 for 10 boxes.
The boxes arrive once every two weeks.
“I earn RM30 to RM50 daily, and sometimes less, from selling food. Depending on the sales, I can earn about RM900 a month,” she said.
“I also get about RM400 in aid from the Perak Islamic Religious Council and Malay Customs, but it is not enough to pay for my son's treatment, loans and house rental.”
Aida said a friend from Sungai Siput wanted to donate one of her kidneys to him and that they would see a doctor at the end of the month to check for compatibality.
Mohd Rawi said Mohd Aidil Adha’s blood type is B+ and hoped that those with a matching blood type could help him.
“I also hope people can donate to the family to ease their burden," he said, adding that he could be contacted at 019516 8338 to assist the family.