Widowed mother of four guts fish, collects boxes to feed children
ALOR STAR: A single mother of four has shared her heart-wrenching struggle to raise her family on a meagre income following the death of her husband to kidney cancer five years ago.
Nor Aza Hamzah, a 44-year-old single mother of four, lives in Alor Star, Malaysia, after her husband passed away from kidney cancer five years ago. The financial strain of raising her children, Aqil Amjad, 13, Aina Aqila, 12, Alim Ajwad, 8, and Aimy Mariam, 6, is a daily challenge for Nor Aza. She frequently apologizes to her youngest daughter for not being able to buy her birthday cake due to lack of funds. Aimy Mariam often cries when she sees her friends from school or restaurants celebrating birthdays.
To make ends meet, Nor Aza engages in various odd jobs. She gutts catfish at the market for RM3 per kilogram, collects cardboard boxes along roadsides, and sells used cooking oil. Her children occasionally assist her during their free time. Despite the hardships, Nor Aza remains grateful that her children are excelling in their studies, which provides her the greatest comfort.
She lives at her late husband's family home in Kepala Batas, Jitra, and spends her days dropping off and picking up her children from school. Navigating between work and family responsibilities leaves her with limited time at home. Due to frequent car breakdowns, Nor Aza's only vehicle is essential for her to work and send her children to school.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
