Father and daughter with Parkinson’s disease finds kindness in society

NorthWest Parkinson's Foundation

Wednesday August 17, 2011

NIGEL EDGAR
 

TheStaronline - Ranyoi, 44, has to work hard to earn a living for her six children because her husband Shinawi Bada, 46, has Parkinson’s disease.

Her eldest daughter Liza, 24, also has the disease and can only stay at home, while her other two daughters and three sons are schooling.

Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang visited her home with a group of reporters and officers yesterday and was saddened to see Shinawi and Liza wheelchair-bound and trembling because of the disease.

“My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about five years ago. It just happened all of a sudden one day. He just trembled non-stop for no reason.

“After that, he could not continue working as a gardener at the Civic Centre and had to resign due to safety concerns. Shortly after that, my daughter was diagnosed with the disease too,” lamented Jiru.

She said she was now the sole breadwinner of the family by working as a cleaner at SMK Arang Road nearby.

“Fortunately, the Welfare Department is giving our family RM400 and my husband RM150 each month,” said Jiru.

“Our eldest son is married and also has a hard life of his own with his family. He just had a newborn son,” she added.

The family previously lived in a run-down shack in Kampung Sinar Budi and were noticed by concerned villagers and the St Joseph Catholic Church.

They raised funds and built her a better house about two years ago.

Unfortunately, the house was destroyed by a fire on July 3 with the family salvaging only the clothes on their backs.

They are now staying temporarily at a relative’s house nearby.

Lo said he and Stampin MP Datuk Yong Khoon Seng had applied for government assistance for the family to rebuild their house.

“A RM40,000 fund has been approved and we hope the construction will start next week,” he said, adding that Jiru and her family could live in the house with electricity and water supply in two to three months.

Jiru said she was thankful for the contributions of not only the people but also MPP and the government.

She said she only hoped her school-going children would do well in their studies and have a good future.

Padawan Municipal Council Helps Elderly Couple To Get New House After Fire Razed Old One

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KUCHING: When his house was razed a fortnight ago, Morni Bujang from Kampung Haji Baki near here feared for the worst.

Being paralysed, the 78-year-old had to put up temporarily with her granddaughter Amy Salleh and not one to burden his loved ones, he longed for a new place.

His Ramadan prayers were answered as through the swift action of Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), Morni will soon be getting a new house, complete with electricity and water supply under the Program Bantuan Rumah (PBR).

What is even more comforting is that it will be built on the site of the previous one.

MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang relayed the good news to Morni and his wife Jaleha Abdullah, 77, yesterday. Accompanying Lo was Batu Kawa PBB chairman Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim.

Lo said the new wooden house, which costs RM40,000, would be built after Aidilfitri and work was expected to be completed within four months.

Good tidings: Lo (centre) and Ahmad (at Lo’s left) with Morni (on wheelchair) and Jaleha (next to Morni) after they relayed the good news to the couple.

“When we got to know that the house was burnt down, we immediately helped the couple to apply for the PBR and we received the approval from Rural and Regional Development Ministry within two weeks.

“It shows the efficiency of the government,” said Lo.

Recalling the day of the fire, Amy said her grandparents were resting in the kitchen in the afternoon when she saw smoke billowing from the roof.

She said her grandfather had gone for a medical check-up earlier in the morning.

“Upon seeing the smoke, my family and I quickly rushed to the house and got both of them out.
“We were lucky to be able to do so as within five minutes, the house was completely burnt down by the raging fire,” said Amy, who is one of the couple’s 18 grandchildren and stays right next to Morni and Jaleha. The couple have three children.

She was thankful for the swift action from relevant authoritites in approving the PBR for her grandparents.

“We really appreciate the help from MPP,” she said, adding that her grandparents would be celebrating Hari Raya this year at her house.

(Source: The Star Online, 17/8/11)
Date : 17 August 2011