Resilient father cares for two disabled children, sick wife
Two houses, hardware shop razed
HULU TERENGGANU: Despite finding it difficult to make ends meet, father of four Mohd Hashim Liew Abdullah has not given up in taking care of his two disabled children.
His eldest daughter, Erynn Erlina, 16, and her brother, Danish Darwish, 12, have been suffering from cerebral palsy since birth.
Mohd Hashim’s woes do not end here.
His wife, Tuan Zaharah Tuan Zaik, 41, who has been diagnosed with intestinal hernia, has been suffering from the condition over the past nine years.
Mohd Hashim, 48, from Kampung Bukit Perah, Ajil here said: “Erynn Erlina and Danish Darwish have been suffering from the nerverelated illness since birth.
“They cannot grow up like normal children. They cannot speak and can only lie down and cry whenever they are in pain.
“On my part, I will not tire of taking care of them, even if I have to do it for as long as I live. They are the most precious gifts God has given me,” he told Bernama at his home here yesterday.
Mohd Hashim, who works in a sawmill near his house said he had to take care of his two special children such as bathe them before sending his two other children, Ahmad Amsyar, eight, and Nor Qaseh Qalisha, five, to school.
“Only after sending the two children to school, I rush to work,” he said, adding that while he was at work, his wife would take care of Erynn Erlina and Danish Darwish.
However, he said doctors had advised his wife not to do heavy chores so as not to place too much pressure on the intestines.
Mohd Hashim said his two disabled children received RM600 in monthly aid from the social welfare department for special milk and disposable diapers.
“We still need the money for their milk and diapers because it has become too expensive these days.
“My wages are not sufficient... just enough for house rent and to purchase food each month,” he added.
Those interested in helping Mohd Hashim’s family can contact Tuan Zaharah at 013-9421038 or contributing via bank account Tuan Zaharah Tuan Zaik, Maybank account number 163-037-094-272. – Bernama GEORGE TOWN: Two families comprising 12 people were left homeless when their houses were destroyed in a fire at Jalan Kimberly here early yesterday.
Also razed in the 4.30am incident were a hardware store, lorry and a forklift nearby.
Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Department senior operations chief, Mohd Al-Hafiz Asmuni said firemen, aided by volunteer firefighters tried in vain to put out the blaze.
In a statement here, he said the fire was brought under control, more than an hour later.
Meanwhile, fire victim Banu Ahmad Haja, her husband and the couple’s two children, aged six and four were asleep when the intense heat woke them up.
“The fire was intense...we could not salvage anything. Had we not been awakened, we would have been burnt to death,” the 32-yearold told reporters here.
Her neighbour, R. Gunavathy, 38, who works as a shop assistant said during the incident, only her mother-in-law was at home while her husband and their five children were at her sister’s house in Kulim, Kedah.